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A traditional ruler from Nigeria, Oba Joseph Oloyede, who is the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, has been sent to prison in the United States. The 62-year-old king was given a 56-month jail term, which is a little over four years, for stealing $4.2 million meant to help businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. This news has shocked many people in Nigeria and beyond. Let us explore what happened, how it happened, and what it means for the community. Read our last post: I Cannot Do What Men Do: Woman’s Facebook Post Praising Men’s Hard Work Goes Viral
Who is Oba Joseph Oloyede?
Oba Joseph Oloyede is not just a king in Nigeria; he is also a citizen of the United States. He lives in Medina, Ohio, but holds the respected title of Apetu of Ipetumodu, a town in Osun State, Nigeria. He became the Apetu in 2019, a role that makes him a leader in his community. Before becoming a king, Oloyede worked as an accountant and an expert in information systems. This means he helped people with their taxes and worked with computers. As a king, he was expected to lead his people with honesty and care. But the news of his actions in the United States has left many people disappointed.What Did Oba Oloyede Do?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses in the United States were struggling. The government created special programmes to help them. These programmes, called the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), gave money to businesses to pay their workers and keep their doors open. The money was meant for businesses that were truly in need. Oba Oloyede, however, saw this as a chance to make money for himself. Between April 2020 and February 2022, he worked with another person named Edward Oluwasanmi to trick the government. They sent fake applications to get money from these programmes. Oloyede used his businesses, like Available Tax Services, Available Tutors, and Available Transportation, to ask for loans. He also used a charity organisation he owned to get more money. The court in the United States said Oloyede and Oluwasanmi sent 38 fake applications. These applications were full of lies about the businesses, including fake tax papers and wage records. Because of these lies, they got $4.2 million that was meant for businesses that really needed help.How Did He Use the Money?
Instead of using the money to help businesses, Oloyede spent it on himself. He bought land, built a house, and even got a fancy car. He also helped some of his tax clients get loans by filling out fake applications for them. In return, he took 15 to 20 percent of the money they got. He did not tell the government about this extra money, which is against the law. The United States government found out about the fraud because they were checking the applications carefully. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and other agencies worked together to catch Oloyede and his partner. They discovered that Oloyede had taken $1.7 million for his own businesses and another $1.3 million by helping others with fake applications.What Happened in Court?
Oba Oloyede was arrested by the FBI in May 2024. At first, people in Ipetumodu did not know where he was. They thought he was missing because he stopped coming to important festivals in the town, like the Odun Egungun and Odun Edi celebrations. Later, they found out he was in trouble in the United States. In April 2025, Oloyede admitted in court that he was guilty of wire fraud and tax fraud. Wire fraud is when someone uses phones or the internet to trick people into giving them money. Tax fraud is when someone lies about their taxes to avoid paying what they owe. Oloyede’s partner, Edward Oluwasanmi, also admitted to being guilty. Oluwasanmi got a shorter sentence of 27 months in prison and was told to pay back $1.2 million. On 26 August 2025, a judge named Christopher Boyko in a United States court in Ohio gave Oloyede his punishment. He was sentenced to 56 months in prison, which is about four years and eight months. The judge also told him to pay back $4.4 million to the government. Oloyede must give up his house in Medina, Ohio, and hand over $96,006.89 that the police had already taken from him. After he leaves prison, he will be watched by the government for three more years to make sure he follows the law.Why Did This Happen?
In a letter to the court, Oloyede asked for forgiveness. He said he was sorry for what he did and explained that he made bad choices because he wanted to help his community in Nigeria. He said he used some of the money to start building a new palace in Ipetumodu after he tore down the old one. But the court did not accept this as an excuse. The judge said Oloyede’s actions were serious because he stole money meant to help people during a difficult time.How Has This Affected Ipetumodu?
The people of Ipetumodu are very sad and upset about what happened. The Apetu is supposed to be a symbol of honour and trust. Many people feel that Oloyede’s actions have brought shame to their town and their culture. Some community members have called his behaviour a “disgrace to the stool of Apetu,” which means they believe he has damaged the respect people have for the throne. Since Oloyede was arrested, the town has not had a king to lead them. This has caused worry, especially because he missed important traditional events. The Osun State government and the traditional council have not yet said what they will do about the empty throne. Some people are asking if Oloyede can still be their king after what he did.Why Does This Matter?
This story is important because it shows what can happen when people take advantage of others’ trust. The COVID-19 pandemic was a hard time for many people around the world. Governments tried to help by giving money to those who needed it. But when people like Oloyede steal that money, it hurts the people who really needed help. Businesses that were struggling could not get the money they deserved because it was taken by someone who lied. This case also reminds us that no one is above the law, not even a king. Oloyede’s actions show that even important people can make big mistakes. The United States government has been working hard to catch people who stole COVID-19 relief money. They have already found many others who did similar things, and they are trying to get the money back.For now, Oba Joseph Oloyede will stay in prison in the United States until his sentence is over. After that, he will have to follow strict rules for three years. It is not clear if he will return to Nigeria or if he will be allowed to remain the Apetu of Ipetumodu. The people of Ipetumodu are waiting to hear what their leaders will decide about their king. This story is a lesson for everyone. It teaches us to be honest and to use money the right way. It also shows that doing the wrong thing can have big consequences, no matter who you are. As the people of Ipetumodu move forward, they hope for a leader who will bring pride and honour back to their community. This article was written by Prudent Joshua for prudentj2.com, based on information from trusted sources like the U.S. Attorney’s Office, court documents, and news reports.
