Chaos In Osun! Jailed Monarch Commands Aides To Seize Ancient Crown & Sacred Beads

The ancient crown and royal beads belonging to the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State have mysteriously disappeared, sparking tension in the historic town.

This comes just weeks after U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko sentenced Oba Joseph Oloyede to 56 months in prison over a $4.2 million COVID-19 fraud case. Sources claim aides and loyalists of the embattled monarch allegedly removed the sacred regalia from the palace on his orders.

Reports indicate that the crown and beads were taken from the monarch’s private residence, which had been serving as the palace after he demolished the original royal building. A woman and some aides were said to have carried out the evacuation of the sacred items.

Community leaders warn that the disappearance of the crown and beads poses a grave threat to Ipetumodu’s traditional heritage, especially during the selection of a new king. “They are inviting the wrath of the deities,” one chieftain said, urging those responsible to return the artifacts immediately.

Oba Oloyede, who holds dual Nigerian and American citizenship, was arrested in May 2025 alongside one Pastor Edward. His conviction has intensified calls for his removal, as ruling houses and princes prepare to contest the throne.

Although normal economic activities continue in Ipetumodu, residents remain gripped by disappointment and uncertainty, their pride in the ancient stool overshadowed by the monarch’s scandal and the missing regalia.