Amanze ChinonyeA United States federal court has sentenced Edward Oluwasanmi, a Nigerian pastor based in Ohio, to 27 months in prison for his role in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme involving falsified loan applications.
The ruling, handed down by Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on July 2, 2025, follows Oluwasanmi’s guilty plea to multiple counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, he was ordered to forfeit $1.3 million, pay a $15,000 fine, and surrender a commercial property located in South Euclid, Ohio. He will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to court documents, between April 2020 and February 2022, Oluwasanmi and his co-defendant, Joseph Oloyede, who is also known as the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Nigeria submitted fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). The duo used a network of companies to submit these claims, including Dayspring Transportation Ltd., Dayspring Holding Inc., Dayspring Property Inc., and several financial service entities controlled by Oloyede.
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Investigators found that the defendants submitted fake tax documents and payroll records to secure pandemic relief funds intended to support struggling American businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. The investigation was led jointly by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.
Both defendants pleaded guilty earlier this year. While Oluwasanmi has been sentenced, Oloyede’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 1, 2025. He has already agreed to forfeit multiple U.S. properties tied to the fraudulent scheme.
The case underscores the U.S. government’s continued efforts to track, prosecute, and recover funds lost to pandemic-related fraud, particularly in high-dollar cases involving complex financial deception.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
