Osun Government To Obtain US Court Judgement That Jailed A Monarch From The State

The Osun State Government has announced that it will secure the Certified True Copy of the U.S. court judgment that sentenced Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, to prison for a multimillion-dollar fraud involving COVID-19 relief funds.

Oloyede, 62, holding dual citizenship of Nigeria and the United States, was sentenced on Tuesday, August 26, to 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch forfeited his Medina, Ohio home, purchased with proceeds of the scheme, alongside an additional $96,006.89 linked to fraud.

He was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy that exploited emergency loan programs designed to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Wednesday, Dosu Babatunde, the Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, stated that the government would not act on unverified reports. “While it may be true that the monarch has been convicted and jailed, there is no official record with us. We cannot rely on Facebook posts and stories to justify such a serious matter,” he said.

Babatunde affirmed that the government would obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment before deciding on the monarch’s position. “We will direct that the Certified True Copy of the judgment be obtained. After studying it, the government will then decide on the next steps,” he added.

In Ipetumodu, a calm atmosphere prevailed on Wednesday, though residents quietly discussed the situation. Chiefs in the town reportedly held a meeting at the palace to address the monarch’s fate.

The most senior chief, Sunday Adedeji, stated, “May God never allow chaos in our community. By the grace of God, He will be in total and complete control. There is no crisis in the town, and we do not envisage any.”

Court records revealed that from April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede, a tax preparer who owned five businesses and a nonprofit, conspired with 62-year-old Edward Oluwasanmi of Willoughby, Ohio, to submit fraudulent applications for COVID-19 relief loans.

The fraudulent claims targeted the Paycheck Protection Programme and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan scheme under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, defrauding the U.S. government of over $4.2 million.

Oloyede pleaded guilty to six counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, and filing false tax returns.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli