Oba Joseph Oloyede, the traditional ruler of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Nigeria, has been sentenced to 56 months in prison by a U.S. federal court over a $4.2 million (₦6.4 billion) COVID-19 relief fraud.
The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Ohio. Oba Oloyede was convicted alongside Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, with both men arrested in April 2024 for submitting fraudulent loan applications under the U.S. government’s COVID-19 relief program.
According to court documents, the pair faced a 13-count charge involving false information used to secure pandemic relief funds. The judge ordered that Oba Oloyede serve 56 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, he must pay $4,408,543 in restitution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office also announced that the monarch will forfeit $96,006 previously seized during the investigation, along with his residence in Medina, Ohio.
Earlier, in July 2025, Pastor Oluwasanmi was sentenced to 27 months in prison for his role in the scheme.
