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Osun monarch jailed five years in US for COVID-19 fraud

Published

6 months ago

August 27, 2025

Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu

Osun monarch jailed five years in US for COVID-19 fraud

A United States court has sentenced Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, to five years in prison over his role in a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fraud and ordered him to repay more than $4.4 million to victims.

At a sentencing held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, before Judge Christopher A. Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio, Mr Oloyede was handed 56 months on each of counts one and 13 of the indictment, and 36 months on counts one and two of the supplemental information. All terms will run concurrently, according to court documents seen by the Peoples Gazette.

In addition to the custodial term, the monarch will serve three years of supervised release, pay a mandatory $400 special assessment, and forfeit assets linked to the fraud.

Prosecutors successfully moved to dismiss counts two to five and seven to 10 of the indictment, reducing his potential exposure to decades behind bars. Still, Judge Boyko ordered that a restitution of $4,408,543.38 be entered against him, a sum he must pay to the victims.

The Apetu is expected to self-report to the U.S. Marshals Service at a later date to begin his sentence.

Mr Oloyede, 62, had pleaded guilty earlier this year after prosecutors presented evidence that he used six companies to fraudulently obtain loans under the U.S. Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) schemes — both emergency relief packages rolled out during the coronavirus pandemic.

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He allegedly forged documents, inflated payrolls, and diverted millions meant to keep struggling American businesses afloat.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested him in May 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio, months after he had quietly slipped out of Nigeria. His disappearance from Ipetumodu raised concerns in the community, especially as he missed key traditional festivals, including the Egungun festival and Odun Edi, ceremonies central to the town’s cultural heritage.

Following his arrest, U.S. prosecutors said he laundered part of the illicit proceeds through personal and business accounts, prompting the seizure of a Medina County property and more than $96,000 from one of his company’s bank accounts. He was later granted bail after surrendering his U.S. and Nigerian passports, but remained under travel restrictions until final judgment.

Plea for leniency

In a sentencing memorandum filed on August 19, 2025, and exclusively obtained by The Gazette, his attorneys, Cal Cumpstone and Michael I. Marein, urged the court to temper justice with mercy. They acknowledged his guilt but argued that the global health crisis influenced his poor choices.

“COVID-19 affected all of us differently,” the document quoted his counsel as saying. “Conduct that we would never expect from ourselves or others sometimes manifested itself as we encountered a completely different society. COVID-19 is not an excuse. But it is a factor. Particularly when, as did Joseph, one had to worry that pre-existing health problems could now become fatal if the virus was contracted.”

The lawyers highlighted his previously clean record, noting that the monarch had lived in the United States since the late 1990s, worked as a banker and adjunct professor, and earned a doctorate before returning to Nigeria, where he was crowned Apetu of Ipetumodu in July 2019.

They described the fraud as a sharp deviation from his history of service and responsibility, stressing that he had shown remorse and fully accepted blame for his actions.

Back home in Osun State, Mr Oloyede’s ordeal has plunged Ipetumodu into uncertainty. His prolonged absence has effectively left the town without an active monarch for over a year, creating a vacuum in traditional leadership. Local chiefs and community leaders have struggled to fill the gap, with some residents quietly raising concerns about succession should his reign be permanently derailed by his conviction abroad.

The embarrassment has also cast a shadow on the state’s traditional council, with many observers noting that it is unusual — if not unprecedented — for a Yoruba monarch to be tried and jailed in a foreign country for financial crimes.

Mr Oloyede, a father of six and foster parent to other children, is among a growing list of Nigerian elites implicated in fraud-related prosecutions in the United States. His sentencing highlights ongoing concerns about the abuse of U.S. COVID-19 relief programs, which saw billions lost to fraud during the pandemic.

For Ipetumodu, however, the case has taken on a more personal dimension. Many locals who had celebrated his installation in 2019 as a symbol of progress now grapple with the reality that their traditional ruler will serve time in a foreign prison.

Osun monarch jailed five years in US for COVID-19 fraud

Related Topics:COVID-19 fraud jailed monarch Osun US

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Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

Published

9 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

File photo

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

– Brake Failure Suspected as Governor Orders Immediate Probe

Tragedy struck on Tuesday morning as seven persons lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash at the busy Ota Toll Gate along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway.

The fatal collision, which occurred during peak traffic hours, reportedly involved a fully loaded trailer suspected to have suffered brake failure before ramming into smaller vehicles, including a commercial tricycle and a mini-bus. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of panic as the out-of-control truck ploughed into vehicles waiting near the toll gate.

Emergency responders from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police swiftly arrived at the scene to rescue victims and clear the wreckage.

The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while the remains of the deceased were deposited at a state mortuary.

“The truck was speeding and suddenly lost control. People were shouting and running for safety,” an eyewitness told reporters at the scene.

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In a statement issued hours after the incident, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the crash. He condemned reckless driving and poor vehicle maintenance, particularly among heavy-duty truck operators.

“This avoidable tragedy underscores the urgent need for strict adherence to traffic regulations and proper vehicle maintenance,” the governor stated.

Motorists experienced heavy gridlock along the expressway as officials worked for several hours to restore normal traffic flow. Authorities have reiterated calls for drivers to exercise caution and ensure their vehicles are roadworthy before embarking on journeys.

The Lagos–Abeokuta corridor, especially around Sango–Ota, has witnessed repeated fatal accidents over the years, raising concerns among residents and commuters about road safety enforcement and infrastructure conditions.

Investigations into the exact cause of Tuesday’s crash are ongoing.

Seven Killed in Horrific Crash at Ota Toll Gate

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Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

Published

10 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

TikToker and aesthetic vendor, Mirabel

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

A young woman identified as Mirabel has shared a harrowing account of a near-death experience following an alleged rape attack in her apartment in Lagos, triggering widespread outrage and calls for justice.

In a video posted on TikTok under the handle @mirab351, Mirabel said the incident occurred on Sunday morning after she opened her door, believing it was a neighbour. According to her account, she was overpowered and lost consciousness during the attack.

She later said she regained awareness to find an intruder assaulting her. The assailant allegedly left her injured before fleeing. Mirabel explained that she initially thought the bleeding she noticed afterward was menstrual, until she received disturbing messages from a man she identified as the suspect.

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Screenshots shared by the victim show the suspect boasting about the attack and making threats intended to discourage her from seeking justice. The messages, which have circulated widely online, have drawn strong condemnation from the public.

In a follow-up video, Mirabel appeared visibly distressed and disclosed that she attempted to harm herself afterward but was rushed to hospital by a friend and survived. She thanked those who reached out in support and said she needed time to recover before engaging further.

The case has sparked an outpouring of sympathy from Nigerians across social media, with many demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the suspect and renewed action against sexual violence. Advocacy groups and citizens are urging law enforcement to ensure accountability and protect survivors.

Mirabel’s story has reignited conversations about women’s safety, survivor support, and the need for swift justice in Nigeria.

If you or someone you know is in danger or struggling after an assault, please seek immediate help from trusted people or local emergency services.

Lagos Woman Shares Ordeal After Alleged Rape, Sparks Nationwide Outcry

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BREAKING: Drama in NASS as Reps Clash Over Backup Manual Result Collation

Published

13 hours ago

February 17, 2026

Trends Admin

Speaker, House of Reps, Tajudeen Abbas

BREAKING: Drama in NASS as Reps Clash Over Backup Manual Result Collation

Abuja — Tension erupted at the National Assembly on Tuesday as opposition lawmakers staged a dramatic walkout in protest against the approval of manual collation of election results as a backup to electronic transmission.

The controversy unfolded during plenary when a motion seeking to adopt manual collation as a contingency measure in the event of technical failure of electronic transmission systems was presented for consideration. While the majority lawmakers supported the proposal, opposition members strongly objected, arguing that the move could undermine electoral transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.

Heated Debate on the Floor

The debate quickly grew intense as several opposition representatives warned that reintroducing manual collation, even as a backup, could open the door to manipulation and irregularities.

One opposition lawmaker described the decision as “a dangerous step backward,” insisting that Nigeria’s electoral reforms were designed to eliminate the flaws associated with manual processes. According to them, reliance on manual collation in previous elections had been a major source of disputes and litigation.

However, lawmakers from the majority caucus defended the proposal, stating that the backup option was necessary to safeguard the integrity of elections in situations where electronic systems malfunction due to network failure, cyber threats, or logistical challenges.

A ranking member of the majority party argued that “no responsible legislature should ignore the possibility of technical glitches,” stressing that manual collation would only serve as a last resort and not replace electronic transmission.

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Dramatic Walkout

Following the Speaker’s ruling allowing the motion to proceed to approval by voice vote, opposition lawmakers rose from their seats in protest. Chanting “No to manual manipulation” and “Protect our votes,” they exited the chamber en masse.

The walkout temporarily disrupted proceedings, drawing reactions from observers and legislative aides present in the gallery.

Despite the protest, the remaining lawmakers proceeded to adopt the motion, effectively approving manual collation as a backup mechanism pending further legislative fine-tuning and possible amendments to the electoral framework.

Implications for Electoral Reform

The development is expected to generate significant political debate across party lines and among civil society organizations. Advocacy groups have consistently pushed for full electronic transmission of results to minimize human interference and enhance credibility.

Political analysts say the decision could become a flashpoint ahead of future elections, especially given past controversies surrounding result collation.

As of press time, leaders of the opposition caucus were reportedly preparing a joint press briefing to outline their position and next steps, including the possibility of seeking judicial interpretation if the approval translates into legislative amendments.

Further updates will follow as the situation develops.