U.S. Court Sentences Yoruba Monarch to 56 Months for $4.2M COVID-19 Relief Fraud

U.S. Court Sentences Yoruba Monarch to 56 Months for $4.2M COVID-19 Relief Fraud

In a landmark case, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Nigeria, has been sentenced to 56 months in prison by a United States federal court following his conviction in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme .

Details of the Case

Oba Oloyede, 62, holds dual citizenship in Nigeria and the U.S. and resides in Medina, Ohio. The sentence was handed down on August 26, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko .

He was ordered to pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution, serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term, and forfeit his Medina home along with $96,006.89 in accumulated fraud proceeds .

Scheme and Charges

Prosecutors say that from April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator, Edward Oluwasanmi, submitted a series of fraudulent PPP and EIDL loan applications under the CARES Act, using falsified tax returns and wage documents to obtain millions in emergency relief funds .

Court records indicate:

Oloyede secured approximately $1.7 million for his entities;

Oluwasanmi obtained about $1.2 million;

In total, around 38 fraudulent loan applications were approved, totaling approximately $4,213,378 .

Both pleaded guilty earlier in April 2025, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office outlined how Oloyede used part of the misappropriated funds to purchase land, build a home, and buy a luxury vehicle, while also receiving kickbacks of 15–20% from applications submitted on behalf of others .

Co-conspirator’s Sentence

In a related verdict on July 2, 2025, Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi was sentenced to 27 months in prison and required to forfeit over $1.2 million, along with property linked to the fraud .

Significance & Context

This case marks a significant enforcement effort by U.S. authorities to hold accountable those who exploited COVID-19 relief programs. Agencies including the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigations, and the Department of Transportation were involved in the investigation .For Nigeria and its diaspora, the sentencing of a high-profile traditional ruler underlines the global consequences of financial malfeasance, regardless of status.