Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi has been arrested by the FBI for conspiring with Oba Joseph Oloyede, an Osun monarch, to defraud the U.S. government out of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Oluwasanmi, alongside Oloyede, submitted forged documents to apply for the COVID-19 loans, which were intended to ease the financial struggles of businesses during the pandemic. The pastor used his three companies—Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation—to secure the fraudulent loans. He then diverted the funds for his personal expenses, violating U.S. federal laws.
The Nigerian pastor was indicted on 13 counts of fraud and arrested in Cleveland in April. Following his arrest, he was granted a $20,000 bail, with the condition that he appears in court for trial. If convicted, he faces the possibility of significant prison time.
In September 2020, Oluwasanmi used approximately $221,880 to make a wire transfer for the purchase of commercial property located on Soyth Freen Road, South Euclid, Ohio. He later transferred $1 million in COVID-19 funds into the brokerage account of his company, Dayspring Transportation, in October 2021.
Prosecutors have already seized approximately $620,000 from Oluwasanmi but are seeking the forfeiture of both this sum and other properties acquired through fraudulent activities. The FBI also seized an additional $599,250 from Oluwasanmi’s account with Fidelity Investments and about $20,000 from his Key Bank account on April 5, 2024.
As part of the conditions for his bail, both Oluwasanmi’s U.S. and Nigerian passports were confiscated to guarantee his appearance at trial. His U.S. passport is listed under the name Edward Olanrewaju Abiodun Oluwasanmi.
Oluwasanmi’s case adds to the long list of Nigerian fraudsters convicted or awaiting trial in U.S. jails. Similarly, Bidemi Rufai, an associate of Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun, was recently released from Fort Dix after serving a sentence for fraud. Additionally, suspected serial fraudster Omobolanle Bombata, known as Bobo Chicago, is battling legal challenges related to millions stolen from companies via email hacking.
Notably, infamous Nigerian fraudsters such as Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas and Woodberry are also serving sentences at Fort Dix for internet-related fraud activities.
