The FBI has arrested Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi for conspiring with Osun monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to defraud the U.S. government of $4.2 million COVID-19 relief funds.
Mr Oluwasanmi, like the Apetu of Ipetumodu, also submitted forged documents to apply for the COVID-19 loans meant to lessen the financial burden of struggling businesses during the pandemic.
Mr Oluwasanmi used his three companies -Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings and Dayspring Transportation – to obtain millions of dollars and subsequently diverted them for his own personal expenses, in breach of U.S. federal laws.
The U.S.-based Nigerian pastor was indicted for fraud on a 13-count charge and arrested in Cleveland in April. The suspected clergy conman was later released on a $20,000 bail on the condition that he appears in court for trial and serve out his sentences if handed prison time.
In September 2020, Mr Oluwasanmi did a wire transfer of about $221,880 to pay for a commercial property on Soyth Freen Road, South Euclid in Ohio.
On October 26, 2021, he wired $1 million COVID-19 funds to Dayspring Transportation (his company) brokerage account.
Prosecutors already seized about $620,000 from the Nigerian pastor but were also seeking a forfeiture of the confiscated sum and other properties acquired with the proceeds of fraud.
FBI seized $599,250 from Mr Oluwasanmi’s Dayspring Transportation account with Fidelity Investments ending in –5800 on April 5, 2024.
Almost $20,000 was seized in the Nigerian pastor’s Dayspring Property account ending with —3548 in Key Bank, on the same day.
Mr Olanrewaju’s U.S. and Nigerian passports were confiscated to guarantee his appearance for trial.
Per his bail terms, he would be re-arrested if he missed any appearance at the court for his trial.
Mr Oluwasanmi and the Osun monarch’s fraud cases add to the already-long list of Nigerian fraudsters convicted and languishing in U.S. jails.
Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun’s associate, Bidemi Rufai, suffered a similar fate and was in December released from Fort Dix correctional facility where had served out his jail term for fraud.