COVID-19 Fraud: How Osun Monarch, Pastor Scandalised Nigeria’s Image Abroad

An Osun monarch and pastor have succeeded in further scandalising Nigeria’s image in the United States (US) allegedly admitting to COVID-19 fraud.

Reports identify the monarch as the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, and a Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi.

Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information system expert, who was appointed the new Apetu in July 2019, and Oluwasanmi were arrested in early 2024.

Their arrest followed alleged roles in a scheme to fraudulently obtain $4.2m in COVID-19 relief funds.

The duo now face possible prison sentences in the United States after pleading guilty to the said charges of COVID-19 fraud.

Arrested in early 2024 for their roles in said illegal scheme, they were arraigned before Justice Christopher Boyko of the US District Court of Ohio 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, be

A report referencing documents, said Oloyede and Oluwasanmi submitted 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.

They did this allegedly using fake tax and wage documents to secure funds meant to support struggling businesses during the pandemic.

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The 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.

Oba Oloyede, who was based in Medina, Ohio, before his enthronement, was accused of using some of his companies, including Available Tax Services Incorporated, Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to defraud the government through the COVID-19 relief fund.

Oluwasanmi was also accused of using his companies: Dayspring Transportation Limited, Dayspring Holding Incorporated, and Dayspring Property Incorporated to obtain millions of dollars, which he later diverted for his expenses, in breach of US federal laws.

Court documents also showed the monarch and Oluwasanmi, also fraudulently obtained the sum of $3.76m from the US Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans scheme.