Ipetumodu leaders urge residents to remain peaceful following Oba Joseph Oloyede’s U.S. fraud conviction.
Leaders of Ipetumodu in Osun State have appealed for calm following the conviction of their traditional ruler, Oba Joseph Olugbemiga Oloyede, in the United States for COVID-19 relief fund fraud.
Speaking under the Ipetumodu Descendants Progressive Union (IDPU), the leaders urged residents to remain peaceful and law-abiding despite the development.
“The news may be unthinkable, but the community must distinguish between foreign legal proceedings and peace at home,” IDPU President Dr Israel Akinjogbin said.
Oba Oloyede was sentenced on Tuesday to 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher Boyko for defrauding the American government of over $4 million. He was also ordered to repay the sum and forfeit properties.
The Osun State Government said it would obtain a certified copy of the judgment before making any official statement, stressing it would not rely on social media reports.
IDPU assured residents that the situation remained under control and urged them to maintain the town’s long-standing peace.