A United States court has sentenced Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, to 56 months in prison for defrauding the American government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. The judgement was delivered by Judge Christopher Boyko after Oloyede pleaded guilty to the charges.
The court also ordered the monarch to serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term and to pay restitution of more than $4.4 million. His residence in Medina, Ohio, and $96,000 seized during the investigation will also be forfeited.
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Oloyede was arrested in April 2024 alongside Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, in connection with the fraud. Prosecutors said the duo submitted falsified loan applications, tax, and wage documents between 2020 and 2022 to obtain funds under the US Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
Investigators revealed the pair used multiple businesses and a nonprofit organisation to secure over $2.9 million. Oluwasanmi, who was also convicted, was sentenced last month to 27 months in prison.
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