Osun Government to Seek Official U.S. Court Documents on Monarch’s Fraud Conviction
The Osun State Government has announced its intention to formally acquire the Certified True Copy of a United States court judgment that sentenced a traditional ruler from the state, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to prison for his involvement in a large-scale COVID-19 financial fraud scheme.
Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu and a Nigerian-American dual citizen, was convicted of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that exploited U.S. pandemic relief funds meant for struggling small businesses. On Tuesday, August 26, U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko handed down a 56-month prison sentence, in addition to a $4.4 million restitution order and three years of supervised release following his term. The court also ordered the forfeiture of his Medina, Ohio residence—purchased with illegal proceeds—alongside $96,006.89 in fraud-related funds.
According to court records, Oloyede collaborated with Edward Oluwasanmi, 62, of Willoughby, Ohio, to submit bogus applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) between April 2020 and February 2022. At the time, Oloyede operated as a tax preparer and owned five businesses and a nonprofit organization in the U.S.
His charges included conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conducting financial transactions with criminal proceeds, and filing false tax documents—six counts to which he pleaded guilty.
In response to the conviction, Osun State’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, said on Wednesday that the state government had yet to receive any official documentation on the matter. He emphasized that no administrative action would be taken solely based on media reports or online commentary.
“Although it’s being reported that the monarch has been convicted, we cannot act on hearsay or social media posts,” Babatunde stated. “We will initiate the process of obtaining a Certified True Copy of the judgment. Once received and reviewed, the government will determine the appropriate course of action.”
Back in Ipetumodu, the atmosphere remained calm despite growing conversations among locals. Palace chiefs reportedly convened a closed-door meeting to deliberate on the king’s legal troubles and potential implications for the throne.
The town’s most senior chief, Sunday Adedeji, called for peace and divine guidance amid uncertainty. “We pray that our community remains united and free of unrest. God will take control. There is no crisis, and we don’t expect one,” he said.
For now, the Osun State Government awaits official documentation before addressing the status of the Apetumodu’s traditional title.
