Osun govt reveals next step on jailed monarch, Apetu of Ipetumodu

The Osun State Government has disclosed that it will obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment that sent the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, to prison in the United States over a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fund fraud.

Recall that Oba Oloyede, 62, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S., was on Tuesday sentenced to 56 months imprisonment by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and refund $4,408,543.38 in restitution.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch forfeited his Medina, Ohio, mansion—purchased with proceeds of the fraud and an additional $96,006.89 traced to the crime.

Confirming the development to our correspondent on Wednesday, the Osun Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Dosu Babatunde, said the government would not rely on social media reports in handling such a sensitive issue.

“While it may be true that the monarch has been convicted and jailed, there is no official record with us. We cannot rely on Facebook posts and stories to justify such a serious matter,” Babatunde stressed.

He added: “We will direct that the Certified True Copy of the judgment be obtained. After studying it, the government will then decide on the next steps.”

Meanwhile, the town of Ipetumodu has remained calm, though residents were seen discussing the development in low tones. Chiefs in the town reportedly held a closed-door meeting at the palace on Wednesday.

The most senior chief, Sunday Adedeji, when contacted, said: “May God never allow chaos in our community. By the grace of God, He will be in total and complete control. There is no crisis in the town, and we do not envisage any.”

Court records revealed that between April 2020 and February 2022, Oba Oloyede, who worked as a tax preparer and operated five businesses alongside a nonprofit, conspired with 62-year-old Edward Oluwasanmi of Willoughby, Ohio, to submit fraudulent applications for U.S. government COVID-19 relief loans.

They targeted the Paycheck Protection Programme and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan scheme, defrauding the U.S. government of over $4.2 million.

Oloyede pleaded guilty to six counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, engaging in monetary transactions with criminally derived property, and making false tax returns.