Osun government on Apetu fraud judgment vows to obtain certified record after U.S. conviction before deciding on monarch’s future

Osun government on Apetu fraud judgment has taken a cautious stance following the conviction of Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, in the United States over a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fund scam.

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The 62-year-old monarch, who holds dual citizenship, was sentenced on Tuesday to 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.

He must also serve three years of supervised release and refund \$4,408,543.38 in restitution. In addition, he forfeited a Medina, Ohio mansion and over \$96,000 traced to the fraudulent scheme.

Reacting to the development, Osun Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dosu Babatunde, stressed that the state would not rely on social media reports for such a sensitive matter.

“While it may be true that the monarch has been convicted and jailed, there is no official record with us. We cannot rely on Facebook posts and stories to justify such a serious matter,” Babatunde said.

He explained that the government will obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment before studying it and deciding on the monarch’s fate.

In Ipetumodu, calm has prevailed despite hushed discussions among residents. Chiefs reportedly held a closed-door meeting at the palace.

The most senior chief, Sunday Adedeji, reassured the community: “May God never allow chaos in our community.

By the grace of God, He will be in total and complete control. There is no crisis in the town, and we do not envisage any.”

Court documents revealed that between April 2020 and February 2022, Oba Oloyede conspired with Edward Oluwasanmi, 62, of Ohio, to file fraudulent applications for U.S. pandemic relief under the Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loan scheme. Together, they defrauded the U.S. government of over \$4.2 million.

Oloyede pleaded guilty to six counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, engaging in unlawful monetary transactions, and filing false tax returns.

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As the community watches closely, the Osun government’s decision—once the court judgment is obtained—will be pivotal in shaping the future of the throne.