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/accomplice, 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
