A US-based
Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison
for fraudulently obtaining approximately $4.2 million (N6.4 billion) in
COVID-19 relief funds guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration
(SBA).
Oluwasanmi
was convicted on Counts 1, 11, and 12 of a 13-count indictment and sentenced by
Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
Ohio on July 2, 2025.
The court also ordered him to forfeit $1.3 million to the U.S. government. His sentences will run concurrently.
His friend,
the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, also forfeited his property to the
US government while awaiting the court judgement fixed for August 1.
The pastor
and Oloyede, who holds the title of Apetu of Ipetumodu, were arrested in April
2024 and later charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to
defraud the U.S. government, money laundering, and engaging in monetary
transactions involving criminally derived property.
According to
U.S. prosecutors, between April 2020 and February 2022, the duo submitted
fraudulent Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster
Loan (EIDL) applications using falsified tax and wage documents for businesses
under their control.
They were
arraigned before Justice Christopher Boyko of the US District Court of Ohio.
It had been
reported that both men pleaded guilty to some of the charges after reaching a
plea agreement.
According to
court records, Judge Boyko sentenced Oluwasanmi to 27 months’ imprisonment on
counts one, 11 and 12 of the indictment on Wednesday, July 2.
The sentences
are to run concurrently.
The court
also ordered Oluwasanmi to pay a fine of $15,000 and report himself to the U.S.
Marshal Service.
 COVID-19 Fraud){kind=link}
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