An Osun State monarch, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, has been sentenced to 56 months in a United States federal prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud. The sentence was handed down by Judge Christopher A. Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio on August 26, 2025.
The traditional ruler, who holds dual citizenship in Nigeria and the US, was also ordered to pay over $4.4 million in restitution, forfeit his Medina, Ohio residence, and surrender nearly $100,000 in fraud proceeds. Upon completing his prison term, he will serve an additional three years under supervised release.
Investigations revealed that between April 2020 and February 2022, Oba Oloyede and his associate, Edward Oluwasanmi, fraudulently obtained around $4.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Using multiple business and nonprofit entities, they submitted falsified loan applications under the CARES Act. Oloyede’s entities received about $1.7 million, while Oluwasanmi’s secured over $1.2 million.
Authorities further disclosed that Oloyede assisted other individuals in filing fraudulent claims, taking commissions of up to 20 percent from the loans obtained. The ill-gotten funds were used to purchase land, construct a home, and acquire luxury items. He also failed to report his earnings to the US tax authorities.
His co-defendant, Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi, had earlier been sentenced to 27 months in prison, ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, and forfeit assets acquired with the fraud proceeds.
The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigations as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s Fraud Task Force. Prosecutors described the monarch’s role as a deliberate abuse of federal pandemic relief programs for personal enrichment. to Cell: Osun Monarch Jailed 56 Months for $4.2m COVID-19 Fraud in USAn Osun State monarch, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, has been sentenced to 56 months in a United States federal prison for his role in a multi-million-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud. The sentence was handed down by Judge Christopher A. Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio on August 26, 2025.The traditional ruler, who holds dual citizenship in Nigeria and the US, was also ordered to pay over $4.4 million in restitution, forfeit his Medina, Ohio residence, and surrender nearly $100,000 in fraud proceeds. Upon completing his prison term, he will serve an additional three years under supervised release.Investigations revealed that between April 2020 and February 2022, Oba Oloyede and his associate, Edward Oluwasanmi, fraudulently obtained around $4.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Using multiple business and nonprofit entities, they submitted falsified loan applications under the CARES Act. Oloyede’s entities received about $1.7 million, while Oluwasanmi’s secured over $1.2 million.Authorities further disclosed that Oloyede assisted other individuals in filing fraudulent claims, taking commissions of up to 20 percent from the loans obtained. The ill-gotten funds were used to purchase land, construct a home, and acquire luxury items. He also failed to report his earnings to the US tax authorities.His co-defendant, Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi, had earlier been sentenced to 27 months in prison, ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution, and forfeit assets acquired with the fraud proceeds.The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General, and IRS Criminal Investigations as part of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee’s Fraud Task Force. Prosecutors described the monarch’s role as a deliberate abuse of federal pandemic relief programs for personal enrichment.
