US court Jails Nigerian Pastor Over $4.2m COVID-19 Fraud

Edward Oluwasanmi, a pastor from Nigeria, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison by a U.S. court for fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds from the U.S. government.

Oluwasanmi was apprehended in April 2024 along with Joseph Oloyede, the traditional ruler of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Nigeria. The duo faced 13 charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions involving illegally obtained funds.

Court documents reveal that from April 2020 to February 28, 2022, Oluwasanmi and Oloyede submitted deceptive applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) through companies they controlled, using falsified information supported by fabricated tax and wage documents.

Oluwasanmi utilized his companies, Dayspring Transportation Limited, Dayspring Holding Incorporated, and Dayspring Property Incorporated, to illicitly secure millions of dollars, which were later redirected to personal expenses, violating U.S. federal regulations.

In February 2025, both individuals pleaded guilty to selected charges and entered into plea agreements with the court.

On July 2, Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio sentenced Oluwasanmi to 27 months in prison on counts 1, 11, and 12 of the indictment, with the sentences to be served concurrently.

“Defendant sentenced to 27 months on Counts 1, 11 and 12 of the indictment, to be served concurrently,” the judgment read.

In addition to the prison sentence, Oluwasanmi was ordered to forfeit $1.3 million to the U.S. government. The court has yet to issue a ruling in the case against Joseph Oloyede, who remains the primary defendant in the matter.

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