The sentencing of Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, to 56 months in a U.S. federal prison has left many Nigerians shocked. A sitting monarch, respected in his hometown, now reduced to an inmate thousands of miles away. But beyond the drama of headlines, this case raises uncomfortable questions about the difference between justice abroad and justice at home.
In the United States, the law is clear: no matter your position, you face the consequences if you break it. It doesn’t matter whether you are a king, a politician, or a billionaire. Fraud is fraud, and punishment is certain. That is why a Nigerian monarch could be tried, convicted, and sentenced in less than three years. The system worked, without fear or favor.
Can the same be said of Nigeria? The reality is painful. Cases involving influential figures at home often drag on endlessly, sometimes for decades, without resolution. Titles, connections, and influence become shields against accountability. This is why many Nigerians reading about the Apetu’s conviction are not only surprised but also quietly aware: such a verdict may never have happened if the crime had been committed here.
For ordinary Nigerians, this is the true lesson. Integrity cannot be faked by titles or hidden behind influence. Abroad, the law works. At home, it struggles to rise above politics and power. If anything, the Apetu’s fall should remind us that until Nigeria builds a system where the law truly applies to all, scandals like this will keep damaging both our institutions and our international reputation.
