Osun Govt Moves To Obtain US Court Judgment On Apetumodu’s Conviction For COVID-19 Relief Fund Fraud

The Osun State Government has said it will obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment delivered by a United States court that convicted and sentenced the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, for his role in a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fund fraud scheme.

The traditional ruler was recently handed a prison sentence in the US after being found guilty of conspiring with others to defraud the American government of funds earmarked to cushion the effects of the pandemic on businesses and vulnerable citizens.

In a statement on Wednesday, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, said it had begun moves to formally obtain the judgment from the US court to guide its next line of action.

According to the government, while it respects the institution of traditional rulership, it must also uphold integrity and accountability, particularly when matters of fraud and criminal conviction are involved.

The statement read in part:

“The Government of Osun State is in the process of obtaining the Certified True Copy of the judgment delivered in the United States against Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu. This step is necessary to allow the government to review the full details of the case and determine its implications on the revered traditional institution in our state.”

The government added that once the judgment is received and reviewed by its legal department, a formal pronouncement will be made in accordance with the provisions of the law and the customs regulating traditional institutions in Osun State.

Oba Oloyede’s conviction has generated widespread reactions both within and outside Ipetumodu, with many residents expressing shock over the development. Some community leaders have called on the state government to take decisive action to protect the sanctity of the traditional stool, while others have urged caution until all legal documents are available.

The Apetumodu stool is one of the foremost traditional thrones in Ife North Local Government Area, and Oba Oloyede has been on the throne since 2016. His sentencing in the US marks the first time in recent history that a first-class traditional ruler in Osun has been convicted abroad for financial crimes.