A U.S. court is set to sentence Oba Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, on August 26, 2025, in a high-profile fraud case that has drawn international attention and left his Nigerian hometown without an active monarch for more than a year.
In a sentencing memorandum filed on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, before Judge Christopher Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch’s legal team admitted his guilt but appealed for leniency, urging the court to consider the psychological and social toll of the COVID-19 pandemic as a mitigating factor.
“COVID-19 affected all of us differently. Conduct that we would never expect from ourselves or others sometimes manifested itself as we encountered a completely different society. COVID-19 is not an excuse. But it is a factor. Particularly when, as did Joseph, one had to worry that pre-existing health problems could now become fatal if the virus was contracted,” his attorneys stated in the filing obtained by Peoples Gazette.
Arrest and Charges
Oba Oloyede, 62, was arrested in May 2024 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after vanishing from Nigeria two months earlier. His sudden disappearance caused anxiety in Ipetumodu, where he failed to preside over key traditional festivals including Odun Egungun and Odun Edi.
U.S. prosecutors accused the monarch of orchestrating a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme, using six companies to file false loan applications under the Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) initiatives, both emergency relief measures introduced during the pandemic.
A Sudden Fall from Grace
Court records reveal that the monarch emigrated to the U.S. in the late 1990s, where he built an impressive professional career. He earned a doctorate degree, worked as an adjunct professor, and held positions in banking, all without blemish, before returning to Nigeria in July 2019 to ascend the throne of Apetu.
His lawyers emphasized this background of service and responsibility, describing the fraudulent acts as a sharp break from his decades-long clean record. They also stressed that he has shown remorse, accepted full responsibility, and cooperated with investigators throughout the proceedings.
Asset Seizures and Restrictions
Following his arrest, prosecutors alleged that portions of the illicitly obtained funds were laundered through personal and business accounts. The U.S. government seized a Medina County property in Ohio and more than $96,000 from one of his company’s bank accounts.
He was later granted bail after surrendering both his U.S. and Nigerian passports, but has remained under strict court restrictions while awaiting sentencing.
Community Concerns in Nigeria
Beyond the courtroom, the monarch’s prolonged legal troubles have left Ipetumodu, a historic Yoruba town in Osun State, in a leadership vacuum. His extended absence has disrupted traditional rites, raised questions about succession, and unsettled local governance.
The uncertainty has sparked debates among community leaders and residents about the future of the stool, especially if the sentencing results in a lengthy prison term.
Awaiting Judgment
Judge Boyko had earlier postponed the sentencing to review the monarch’s sealed medical records, but is now expected to deliver judgment next week. The outcome will not only determine Oba Oloyede’s fate in the U.S. but could also shape the traditional leadership structure of Ipetumodu for years to come.
