The FBI arrested a Nigerian pastor who resides in the United States for multimillion-dollar internet fraud.

 

Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Osun monarch, and Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi have been arrested by the FBI over their alleged conspiracy to defraud the US government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.

 

Oluwasanmi and Oloyede are alleged to have submitted falsified documents to apply for loans meant to help struggling businesses during the pandemic.

 

Oluwasanmi made use of his three companies, Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation, to secure millions of dollars, but then used it for personal expenses, in violation of U.S. federal laws. A Nigerian pastor who lives in the U.S. was charged with 13 counts of fraud and arrested in Cleveland in April. He was released on $20,000 bail, but with the condition that he appears for trial and serves any jail sentence if convicted.

 

Oluwasanmi made a transfer of about $221,880 in September 2020 to buy a commercial property on South Freen Road in South Euclid, Ohio. His company, Dayspring Transportation's brokerage account, received $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds from him on October 26, 2021. The prosecutors have taken around $620,000 from Oluwasanmi and are attempting to forfeit it along with other properties acquired through fraudulent activities.

 

On April 5, 2024, the FBI took over $599,250 from his Dayspring Transportation account at Fidelity Investments and almost $20,000 from his Dayspring Property account at Key Bank. Oluwasanmi's U.S. and Nigerian passports have been taken away to guarantee his court appearance. His U.S. passport lists him as Edward Olanrewaju Abiodun Oluwasanmi, with passport number 58*****76, and his Nigerian passport number is A10****31.

 

Failure to appear in court for his trial will result in Oluwasanmi being re-arrested as part of his bail agreement. Oba Oloyede and his case are among a long list of Nigerian fraudsters who have been convicted and incarcerated in the U.S. Bidemi Rufai, who is connected to Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun, was released from prison earlier after serving time for similar offenses. Other prominent Nigerians, such as Omobolanle Bombata (aka Bobo Chicago), Wale Ogundana, and Ramon Ray 'Hushpuppi' Abbas, have also been charged with fraud and imprisoned in the United States.