The FBI has arrested Nigerian Pastor Edward Abiodun Oluwasanmi for conspiring with Osun monarch, Oba Joseph Oloyede, to defraud the U.S. government of $4.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
Mr Oluwasanmi used his three companies Dayspring Property Incorporated, Dayspring Holdings and Dayspring Transportation to obtain millions of dollars which he later diverted for his expenses, in breach of U.S. federal laws.
The U.S.-based Nigerian pastor was indicted for fraud on a 13-count charge and arrested in Cleveland in April.
The suspected clergy conman was later released on a $20,000 bail on the condition that he appear in court for trial and serve out his sentence if handed prison time.
In September 2020, Mr Oluwasanmi did a wire transfer of about $221,880 to pay for a commercial property on Soyth Freen Road, South Euclid in Ohio.
On October 26, 2021, he wired $1 million COVID-19 funds to Dayspring Transportation (his company) brokerage account.
Prosecutors already seized about $620,000 from the Nigerian pastor but were also seeking a forfeiture of the confiscated sum and other properties acquired with the proceeds of fraud.
FBI seized $599,250 from Mr Oluwasanmi’s Dayspring Transportation account with Fidelity Investments ending in –5800 on April 5, 2024.
Almost $20,000 was seized in the Nigerian pastor’s Dayspring Property account ending with —3548 in Key Bank, on the same day.
Both Mr Olanrewaju’s U.S. and Nigerian passports were confiscated to guarantee his appearance for trial.
His name in the U.S. passport is Edward Olanrewaju Abiodun Oluwasanmi and his passport number is 58*76 while that of Nigerian passport is A1031.
Per his bail terms, he would be re-arrested if he missed any appearance at the court for his trial.
