U.S. Court has jailed Nigerian Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi Abiodun for $4.2 million COVID-19 Relief Fraud.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that a United States District Court has sentenced Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi Abiodun, to 27 months in prison for his role in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.
Abiodun was arrested in April 2024 alongside Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Nigeria. The duo faced a 13-count indictment, including charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, money laundering, and conducting unlawful financial transactions.
According to court documents, between April 2020 and February 28, 2022, both defendants submitted fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) using companies they controlled. The applications were supported with falsified tax documents and wage records.
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Abiodun used companies such as Dayspring Transportation Limited, Dayspring Holding Incorporated, and Dayspring Property Incorporated to secure the funds. Investigations revealed the funds were diverted for personal use in violation of federal laws.
In February 2025, Abiodun and Oloyede pleaded guilty to several of the charges and entered into plea agreements.
On July 2, Judge Christopher Boyko of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Division of Ohio sentenced Abiodun to 27 months imprisonment on counts 1, 11, and 12 of the indictment, to be served concurrently. In addition, the court ordered the forfeiture of \$1.3 million to the U.S. government.
“The defendant is sentenced to 27 months on Counts 1, 11, and 12 of the indictment, to be served concurrently,” Judge Boyko stated.
Judgment is still pending in the case against the co-defendant, Joseph Oloyede.
