Oluwasanmi and his associate, Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, were arrested in 2024 for fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million through falsified pandemic loan applications.
A U.S. District Court has sentenced Nigerian pastor Edward Oluwasanmi to 27 months in prison for defrauding COVID-19 relief funds.
Oluwasanmi and his associate, Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, were arrested in 2024 for fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million through falsified pandemic loan applications.
Justice Christopher Boyko of the Ohio District Court sentenced Oluwasanmi on Wednesday, July 2, on three counts, to be served concurrently.
The court also imposed a $15,000 fine and ordered a supervised release. “Supervised release three years on each of counts 1 and 11-12… to run concurrently,” court documents state.
A commercial property in Ohio was among the assets forfeited to the U.S. government.
Oloyede, who pleaded guilty to similar charges, will be sentenced August 1.
The monarch allegedly used companies like Available Tax Services Inc. to submit fake documents for pandemic relief.
Osun State officials say they await the court’s verdict before deciding his royal status.