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United States Jails Nigerian Monarch Over $4.2 Million Covid-19 Loan Fraud

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The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison in the United States.

The monarch, 62, was convicted on charges of conspiracy to exploit COVID-19 emergency loan programmes created for struggling businesses.

Oloyede, who holds dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26 handed 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko.

In a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio on Tuesday, the monarch, was also ordered to “serve three years of supervised release after imprisonment and pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution

“He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 in fraud proceeds investigators had seized.

“From about April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator, Edward Oluwasanmi, conspired to submit fraudulent applications for loans that were made available through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” the statement read.

In April, the duo pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax fraud charges linked to a pandemic relief scam that siphoned over $4.2m in federal stimulus funds.

The court was told that Oloyede, who also worked as a tax preparer, “operated five businesses and one nonprofit, while Oluwasanmi owned an additional three business entities.

“Both defendants used their businesses to submit loan applications using false information.

“They obtained approximately $1.2 million in SBA funds for Oluwasanmi’s entities and $1.7 million for Oloyede’s entities,” the statement added.

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According to investigators, “Oloyede submitted fraudulent PPP and EIDL applications in the names of some of his clients and their businesses.

“In exchange, Oloyede would receive 15-20% of their loans as the fee, or kickback, for obtaining the loans for them, without reporting this income to the IRS on his own tax returns.”

The funds were then used for personal gain, prosecutors said.

“Investigators learned that the defendant used funds obtained from these loans to acquire land and build a home and purchase a luxury vehicle,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office disclosed.

In all, Oloyede “caused the SBA to approve 38 fraudulent applications, amounting to $4,213,378 in disbursed loans and advances.”

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Crime

Pastor Arrested For Hiring Cultists to Kill A Rival Pastor In Bayelsa Over Church Membership

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Operatives of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Bayelsa State Police Command have arrested a Delta State–based pastor, Elijah Oro, alongside a suspected cult member, over an alleged plot to assassinate a rival prophet in the state.

Police sources revealed that the pastor allegedly recruited a 21-year-old suspect, Samuel Daniel, said to be a member of the dreaded Greenlanders cult, to carry out the attack. The alleged conspiracy is believed to have stemmed from a lingering dispute over church membership and property.

Confirming the arrests in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said the operation was based on actionable intelligence. He disclosed that both suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation in connection with the alleged attempt on the life of the unnamed prophet.

According to Mohammed, “On January 28, 2026, at about 10:35 a.m., operatives of the SWAT Unit arrested Samuel Daniel, 21, from Nembe Ogbolomabiri Community, and Pastor Elijah Oro, 59, of Ozoro Community in Delta State, in connection with an alleged plot to kill a prophet.”

He added that preliminary findings showed that Daniel was apprehended at the residence of the targeted prophet, where he reportedly confessed to being a member of the Greenlanders cult and admitted that he was allegedly contracted by Pastor Oro to execute the plan.

The police spokesperson said investigations are ongoing to fully unravel the circumstances and motive behind the alleged plot, assuring that all those found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

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See also  Cultists kill four in Lagos, Ogun communities
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NAPTIP rescues 10 minors after intercepting suspected child traffickers in Taraba

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The Taraba State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has intercepted a suspected human trafficker and rescued 10 minors in Jalingo.

The State Commandant, Mr Bako Amos, disclosed this in a statement issued to Journalists this weekend.

He disclosed that the arrest followed actionable intelligence received by the agency.

According to Amos, the interception was carried out at about 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026, at Kurmi Park in Jalingo, in collaboration with the Special Adviser to the governor of Taraba State on Human Trafficking, Mrs Sarah Ishaya.

“The suspect was apprehended while making preparations to traffic the 10 children to an unknown destination,” he said.

Amos added that both the victims and the suspect are currently in NAPTIP’s custody, while investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the trafficking attempt.

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See also  Lagos driver flees with employer’s car four days after resumption
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EFCC Arraigns Alleged Serial Fraudster, Titilayo Eboh, Two Others For Alleged N247.5m Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday, January 30, 2026, arraigned an alleged serial fraudster, Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, for an alleged N247,500,000( Two Hundred and Forty-seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) before Justice Justice Ramon Oshodi of the State High Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos.

Eboh, alongside Uchenna Ejindu and Salami Eneojo Stephen, was arraigned on an amended four-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence, conspiracy , money laundering and stealing.

The defendants allegedly conspired to defraud one Jude Nyemike Atoh of the sum of ₦247,500,000 (Two Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Investigation revealed that the defendants received the sum of money in cash under the pretence that they would provide the dollar equivalent to the petitioner, a representation they knew to be false.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Uchenna Ejindu, Musa Abdulhamid, Salami Eneojo Stephen, and Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, sometime in July 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to defraud Mr. Jude Nyemike Atoh of the sum of ₦247,500,000 on the pretence that you would give him the dollar equivalent, which pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14, 2006.”

Another count reads: ” Musa Abdlhanmid (trading under the name and style of Rizqan Dayyiban Global Concept), Salami Eneojo Stephen and Titilayo Funmilayo Eboh, sometime, in July, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, collaborated to conceal the sum of $160,300 (One Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred Dollars), property of one Jude Nyemike, with the aim of concealing the ilegal origin of the said sum by giving and receiving same in cash.”

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The first, second and third defendants pleaded “not guilty” to counts one, two, and three, while the second and third defendants also pleaded “not guilty” to count four.

During the proceedings, prosecution counsel, T. J. Banjo informed the court that the matter had already been fixed for trial on February 27, 2026, and prayed the court to maintain the date.

Responding, counsel to the first defendant, Victor Okpara, SAN, told the court that his client had been on bail since May 15, 2025, and had diligently attended all court proceedings.

He also urged the court to allow him to continue to enjoy the existing bail conditions.

Counsel to the second defendant, Dehinde Dipeolu, aligned with the submission of Okpara.

Counsel to the third defendant, Mike Umonnan, informed the court that he had filed a bail application and also prayed for an earlier date to move the application in view of the health condition of his client.

The prosecution counsel, however, vehemently opposed the bail application of the third defendant and also urged the court to remand her in a correctional centre, citing difficulties previously encountered by the Commission in arresting her.

Justice Oshodi, consequently, adjourned the matter till February 12, 2026, for the hearing of the third defendant’s bail application and also ordered that she be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.

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