*The United States District Court sentences Edward Oluwasanmi, a Nigerian pastor, to 27 months鈥� imprisonment, while his friend, Oba Joseph Oloyede, Apetu of Ipetumodu, in Osun State, forfeits his property to the US Government while awaiting the court judgement August 1, 2025, over $4.2 million fraud in COVID-19 relief funds

Alexander Davis | 绿帽献妻

A United States District Court, in Ohio, has sentenced certain Edward Oluwasanmi, a Nigerian pastor, to 27 months鈥� imprisonment for COVID-19 relief funds fraud in the American country.

Likewise, Oba Joseph Oloyede, Apetu of Ipetumodu, in Osun State of Nigeria, who is Oluwasanmi’s friend, has forfeited his property to the US Government as he awaits the court judgement slated for August 1, 2025.

绿帽献妻 reports the US security agents had arrested both Oluwasanmi and Oba Oloyede early 2024 for fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

It was gathered there has been palpable uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of Oba Oloyede since he disappeared from the palace in Ipetumodu early last year.

But there remain rumours making rounds about how the monarch was involved in the Coronavirus relief funds malfeasance in the US.

Oba was appointed the Apetu of Ipetumodu, in Osun State July 2019.

Both Oluwasanmi and Oloyede were charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.

They were arraigned before Justice Christopher Boyko of the US District Court of Ohio.

Oluwasanmi and Oloyede subsequently pleaded guilty to some of the charges after reaching a guilty plea agreement with the court, according to report.

The US court records obtained further indicated that Judge Boyko Wednesday, July 2, sentenced Oluwasanmi to 27 months鈥� imprisonment on counts one, 11 and 12 of the indictment.

The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The court as well ordered the convict to pay a fine of $15,000, while he is to report himself to the US Marshal Service.

The court stated: 鈥淪upervised release three years on each of counts 1 and 11-12, all such terms to run concurrently, with standard and special conditions.

鈥淎s a result of the foregoing offenses, defendants Joseph Oloyede and Edward Oluwasanmi shall forfeit to the United States: all property, real and personal, which constitutes 鈥� or is derived from 鈥� proceeds traceable to the commission of the wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy offences; all property constituting, or derived from, proceeds the defendants obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of the wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy offences and any and all property, real and personal involved in the money laundering offenses, and any property traceable to such property.”

Besides, Oluwasanmi is to forfeit a commercial property on 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, in Ohio.

Meanwhile, the court has fixed Friday, August 1, for sentencing of Oba Oloyede, after the monarch also pleaded guilty to counts one and 13 of his charges.

The traditional ruler, who is a US-based accountant and information system expert, Monday, April 21, had submitted his guilty plea to the court.

Genesis of COVID-19 funds fraud against US Government

Earlier, Oba Oloyede and Oluwasanmi were accused of submitting falsified applications for Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans under the US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act between April 2020 and February 2022.

The duo also were purported to have used fake tax and wage documents to secure funds meant to support struggling businesses during the devastating pandemic in the US.

The US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing loans to small businesses and non-profit entities experiencing revenue loss due to the pandemic.

The Act also authorised the US Small Business Administration to issue advances or grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses.

The US authorities pointedly accused Oba Oloyede of using some of his companies, including Available Tax Services Incorporated, Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to defraud the American Government, report noted.

Following the Oloyede’s disappearance from Apetu’s palace, the Osun State Government reportedly said it would await the outcome of his trial in the United States before taking action.

The government also said it would conduct investigations and take steps on the monarch鈥檚 disappearance from the palace.

Speaking on the Osun monarch’s ordeal in the US, Kolapo Alimi, Osun State Honourable Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Friday, July 4 said nothing had changed yet in connection with the state government’s position on the matter.

The Commissioner stated: 鈥淎 person is innocent until a court convicts them.

“So, we don鈥檛 want to jump the gun; let us wait for the court鈥檚 pronouncement on the matter,鈥� The Punch report said.

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