Nigerian Pastor Jailed In U.S. Over $4.2m COVID-19 Relief Fraud, Osun Monarch Loses Property

A U.S. District Court has sentenced Nigerian pastor Edward Oluwasanmi to 27 months in prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud involving falsified applications under the U.S. Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

Oluwasanmi, convicted on three counts of fraud, was also fined $15,000 and ordered to report to the U.S. Marshal Service. He will serve a three-year supervised release after completing his sentence. The court also ordered the forfeiture of a commercial property he owned in South Euclid, Ohio.

His co-conspirator, Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State and a U.S.-based accountant, pleaded guilty to related charges and is scheduled for sentencing on August 1. He has already forfeited property to the U.S. government.

The duo was arrested in early 2024 after U.S. investigators uncovered a scheme involving fake tax and wage documents used to fraudulently obtain $4.2 million in relief funds meant to help struggling businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fraudulent activity occurred between April 2020 and February 2022.

Oba Oloyede allegedly used multiple companies—including Available Tax Services Inc. and Available Financial Corporation—to facilitate the scam. His guilty plea followed months of legal proceedings and a deal with U.S. prosecutors.

The Osun State Government, reacting to the monarch’s legal troubles, said it is monitoring the case and will wait for the court’s final decision before taking any official action.

“A person is innocent until a court convicts them. We don’t want to jump the gun,” said Kolapo Alimi, Commissioner for Information.

The monarch’s prolonged absence from public functions had already triggered a preliminary inquiry by the state government.