A United States District Court has sentenced Nigerian cleric, Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi, to 27 months in federal prison for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 relief fund fraud scheme. His associate and longtime friend, Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, is scheduled for sentencing on August 1, 2025.
The duo were arrested in early 2024 after U.S. federal authorities uncovered fraudulent claims totalling $4.2 million filed through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), which were components of the CARES Act designed to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court Ruling Details
According to court documents, Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio delivered the sentence on Wednesday, July 2. Pastor Oluwasanmi received 27 months of imprisonment on counts one, eleven, and twelve of the indictment, with all sentences to run concurrently.
Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $15,000 fine and will serve three years of supervised release per count, also to run concurrently. The court mandated Oluwasanmi to forfeit a commercial property located at 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio, which was determined to be connected to proceeds from the wire fraud offenses.
The judgment partly reads: "As a result of the aforementioned offenses, defendants Joseph Oloyede and Edward Oluwasanmi shall forfeit to the United States all real and personal property derived from, or traceable to, the proceeds of the wire fraud and conspiracy convictions."
Oba Oloyede's Involvement
Oba Oloyede, who also held professional roles in accounting and information systems while residing in the U.S., pleaded guilty to counts one and thirteen of the indictment on April 21, as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He has already surrendered property to the U.S. government.
The monarch is accused of using companies under his control, including Available Tax Services Inc., Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to facilitate the scheme. The court determined that fraudulent wage and tax records were submitted to obtain relief funds intended for financially distressed businesses during the height of the pandemic.
The offenses occurred between April 2020 and February 2022.
Osun State Government Response
The Osun State Government has responded cautiously to the ongoing legal matter. Speaking on the issue, the state's Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, noted that authorities are closely observing developments but will withhold formal action until the conclusion of legal proceedings in the U.S.
"A person remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court," Alimi stated. "We will wait for the final judicial pronouncement before making any administrative decisions."
Prior to these developments, state officials had reportedly begun a preliminary inquiry into Oba Oloyede's extended absence from the community and his apparent disengagement from royal duties.
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