The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Nigerian pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi for allegedly conspiring with Osun monarch Oba Joseph Oloyede to defraud the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Similar to the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oluwasanmi allegedly submitted falsified documents to secure pandemic relief loans meant to support struggling businesses.
Through his three companies—Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation—he reportedly obtained millions of dollars, which he diverted for personal use, violating U.S. federal laws.
The pastor, based in the United States, was charged with 13 counts of fraud and was arrested in Cleveland in April. He was later granted a $20,000 bail on the condition that he appears in court for trial and serves his sentence if convicted.
Investigators revealed that in September 2020, Oluwasanmi transferred approximately $221,880 to purchase a commercial property in South Euclid, Ohio. A year later, on October 26, 2021, he allegedly moved $1 million in COVID-19 relief funds into the brokerage account of his company, Dayspring Transportation.
Authorities have already seized about $620,000 from Oluwasanmi and are pursuing the forfeiture of additional assets acquired with the fraudulent funds.
On April 5, 2024, the FBI confiscated $599,250 from his Dayspring Transportation account with Fidelity Investments, as well as nearly $20,000 from his Dayspring Property account at Key Bank.
To prevent flight risk, his U.S. and Nigerian passports were seized. His American passport lists his full name as Edward Olanrewaju Abiodun Oluwasanmi, while his Nigerian passport number is A10****31.
Under his bail conditions, he risks immediate re-arrest if he fails to appear for any scheduled court proceedings.
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