By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Nigerian pastor based in the United States, Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi, has been arrested by the FBI for his alleged involvement in a massive internet fraud scheme aimed at defrauding the U.S. government of4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Oluwasanmi, who resides in Cleveland, Ohio, was allegedly part of a conspiracy with Oba Joseph Oloyede, the monarch of a town in Osun State, Nigeria, BlackBox reported earlier.
The duo is accused of submitting forged documents to apply for COVID-19 relief loans that were intended to provide financial assistance to struggling businesses during the pandemic.
The pastor is alleged to have used his three companies—Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings, and Dayspring Transportation—to secure millions of dollars in loans, which he then diverted for personal expenses.
These actions violated several U.S. federal laws related to fraud and abuse of government relief funds.
Oluwasanmi was indicted on 13 counts of fraud and arrested in April in Cleveland.
He was later released on $20,000 bail with the condition that he appear for trial. However, if he fails to attend his court hearings, he faces the possibility of being re-arrested.
