The dethroned Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has dragged Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke to court seeking to stop the appointment of a new monarch for the community after his removal.

Oloyede, who was convicted in the United States for tax fraud and money laundering, is contesting the legality of his deposition and has asked an Osun State High Court in Ile-Ife to suspend the process of choosing his successor.

The former monarch filed the suit alongside three princes from the Latimogun Royal Family of the Aribile Ruling House.

In the application dated September 16, 2026, Oloyede contended that the state government did not formally notify him of any alleged misconduct before dethroning him.

He is praying the court to restrain Adeleke and other government officials from installing a replacement until the substantive case is decided.

The suit, marked HIF/50/2026, is also challenging the removal order said to have been signed by the governor on May 7, 2026.

Proceedings were stalled on Monday after some defendants were said not to have received hearing notices.

Only the claimants’ lawyer, O. Ogbewe, and counsel to the fifth defendant, Soji Oyetayo, appeared before Justice Dapo Adeniji.

While Ogbewe told the court that the processes had been served, Oyetayo said he did not receive the hearing notice and sought an adjournment.

The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to January 21, 2027, and ordered that fresh hearing notices be issued and served on the defendants.

The legal tussle follows Oloyede’s removal after his US conviction, which led to a 56-month prison sentence.