A United States District Court has sentenced Nigerian pastor Edward Oluwasanmi to 27 months in prison for COVID-19 relief fund fr8ud, marking a major conviction in a multi-million-dollar scam involving falsified pandemic aid applications
Oluwasanmi was convicted alongside his associate, Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, for fraudulently obtaining over $4.2 million through the U.S. Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) between April 2020 and February 2022.
The case centered on their submission of fake tax and wage documents to access funds intended for businesses hit by the pandemic.
The Nigerian pastor was sentenced by Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court in Ohio. According to court records, Edward Oluwasanmi’s COVID-19 relief fund fraud conviction covers counts 1, 11, and 12 of the indictment, to be served concurrently. He was also fined $15,000 and ordered to report to the U.S. Marshal Service.
“Supervised release of three years on each of counts 1, 11, and 12—all such terms to run concurrently,” the judgment reads. The court further ruled that Oluwasanmi must forfeit a commercial property located at 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio, as part of the sentence.
Oba Oloyede, who was also implicated in the fraud, forfeited property to the U.S. government while awaiting his sentencing scheduled for August 1. His companies — Available Tax Services Inc., Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company — were allegedly used as fronts to defraud the U.S. government.
The duo initially faced 13 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S., money laundering, and engaging in criminal transactions with illicit funds. They later entered a guilty plea agreement with the court.
This COVID-19 relief fund fraud case has raised concerns in both the U.S. and Nigeria. In Osun State, where Oba Oloyede hails from, the government has maintained a cautious stance. State Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi, said the monarch remains innocent until proven guilty.
“A person is innocent until a court convicts them. So, we don’t want to jump the gun; let us wait for the court’s pronouncement on the matter,” Alimi stated.
The U.S. Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted to support struggling small businesses and non-profits during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the COVID-19 relief fund fraud by Oluwasanmi and Oloyede exploited the system, diverting resources from legitimate beneficiaries.
This case stands as one of the most high-profile fraud convictions involving Nigerian nationals in pandemic-related financial crimes, shining a spotlight on the misuse of emergency aid programs and the international legal consequences of such actions.
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Nawa