Lifestyle
COVID-19 Fraud: US Court Jails Pastor As Osun Monarch Forfeits Property
A United States District Court has sentenced a Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, to 27 months’ imprisonment for COVID-19 relief fund fraud.
His friend, the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, also forfeited his property to the US government while awaiting the court judgement slated for August 1.
Oluwasanmi and Oba Oloyede were arrested in early 2024 for fraudulently obtaining $4.2m in COVID-19 relief funds.
The two men were charged with 13 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property.
They were arraigned before Justice Christopher Boyko of the US District Court of Ohio.
Saturday PUNCH had reported that Oluwasanmi and Oloyede pleaded guilty to some of the charges after reaching a guilty plea agreement with the court.
According to court records obtained by our correspondent, Judge Boyko sentenced Oluwasanmi to 27 months’ imprisonment on counts one, 11 and 12 of the indictment on Wednesday, July 2.
The sentences are to be served concurrently.
The court also ordered Oluwasanmi to pay a fine of $15,000, while he is to report himself to the U.S. Marshal Service.
“Supervised release three years on each of counts 1 and 11-12, all such terms to run concurrently, with standard and special conditions.
“As a result of the foregoing offenses, defendants Joseph Oloyede and Edward Oluwasanmi shall forfeit to the United States: all property, real and personal, which constitutes – or is derived from – proceeds traceable to the commission of the wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy offenses; all property constituting, or derived from, proceeds the defendants obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of the wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy offenses and any and all property, real and personal involved in the money laundering offenses, and any property traceable to such property,” the court said.
Oluwasanmi is to forfeit a commercial property on 422 South Green Road, South Euclid, Ohio.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed Friday, August 1, for sentencing of Oloyede, after the monarch also pleaded guilty to counts one and 13 of his charges.
On Monday, April 21, Oba Oloyede, a US-based accountant and information system expert, who was appointed Apetu in July 2019, submitted his guilty plea to the court.
Oba Oloyede and Oluwasanmi were accused of submitting falsified applications for Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loans under the US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act between April 2020 and February 2022.
They were also alleged of using fake tax and wage documents to secure funds meant to support struggling businesses during the pandemic.
The US Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to Americans suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing loans to small businesses and non-profit entities experiencing revenue loss due to the pandemic.
The Act also authorised the US Small Business Administration to issue advances or grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses.
Oba Oloyede was accused of using some of his companies, including Available Tax Services Incorporated, Available Financial Corporation, and Available Transportation Company, to defraud the government.
Following the monarch’s disappearance, the Osun State Government had said it would await the outcome of his trial before taking action.
The government also said it would conduct investigations and take steps on the monarch’s disappearance from the palace.
The state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, on Friday, said nothing had changed yet.
He said, “A person is innocent until a court convicts them. So, we don’t want to jump the gun; let us wait for the court’s pronouncement on the matter.”
Lifestyle
“My World Revolved Around Regina Daniels”: Ned Nwoko Opens Up How He Married Regina Honourably
Senator Ned Nwoko has addressed ongoing controversies surrounding his marriage to Nollywood actress Regina Daniels.
The politician highlighted that his decision to marry her was done honourably and in accordance with tradition.
In a press release, the Delta-born senator claimed the saga was a deliberate attempt by his political enemies to tarnish his image.
Ned Nwoko recently released a press statement alleging that a “syndicate of pull-down-Ned” group is taking advantage of the situation involving his wife, Regina Daniels, to tarnish his image.
Nwoko made this claim amid reports of ongoing marital challenges between him and the Nollywood actress.
The last part of the press release addresses why he married the movie star, how he doted on her, and how she has become a weak point through which his political and personal enemies are attacking him.
The concluding part of the press release says: “Our customs and traditions do not frown upon polygamy. What I did was to marry her honourably, give her a name, and treat her with dignity.”
Nwoko further revealed that beyond public perception and social media narratives, his relationship with Regina has been genuine and built on care and affection.
Our marriage has been public and transparent. Beyond the social media lifestyle, my world revolved around Regina. I pampered her and cared for her deeply, something that everyone who has worked with me across Delta, Abuja, and beyond can testify to.”
However, the senator lamented that Regina has become a target through which his adversaries have been attacking him and his political achievements.
“It is, therefore, disheartening to read all this filth being spread online. As the saying goes, when a wall cracks, the lizard finds its way in. Regina has become a weak point through which my political and personal enemies have been attacking me.”
Concluding the statement, Nwoko alleged that the ongoing campaign against him is part of a larger effort to undermine his political progress and development projects.
“My decision to marry her properly according to tradition is now being twisted into a tool for political blackmail. This is a witch-hunt that has been ongoing for years, an attempt to stop my developmental strides and tarnish me now that I am a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Daily voice.ng compiled the reactions below:
lsk_luxuryfashion said: “Oga rest! These lines don cast!!! Ur little angel said she’s done, let her go! God bless you in advance 🙏🏽”
okpako.francess said:
“God really saved Regina Daniel. Only God knows what this girl has been through in Chinedu’s hands. my God.”
msennuga
“If only Chinedu didn’t come out with all that drug-using stuff, this whole buhaha won’t have escalated like this😢. As an elder, after that video of domestic violence came out, all he needed to have done if he must clear his name is just for him to write it was a family matter and he will settle it within the family. After all there was nothing in that video that showed him beating his ex-wife.”
Daily Voice.ng earlier reported that Regina Daniels’ brother, Sweezy, made fresh allegations against Senator Ned Nwoko, claiming that he nearly beat their mother. Sweezy further accused Nwoko of treating his sick niece poorly by sending her away from his house at 3 am. He also accused the senator of physical aggression toward his staff, including Regina’s former personal assistant, Leya.
Lifestyle
Nigeria Is Blessed With One Of The Best Security Infrastructure – Pastor Irene
Popular Nigerian clergyman Emmanuel Iren has claimed that Nigeria has one of the best security infrastructures in the world.
Irene shared his submission during a sermon.
He, however, stated that the system’s efficiency often depends on an individual’s social and financial status.
The clergyman asserted that those with wealth and influence often get a quick response from security operatives, but stated that the situation might be different for people who are financially incapacitated.
He stated that the uneven distribution of justice allows injustice and violence to persist in some parts of the country.
Irene noted that the insecurity situation in the country might be related to the fact that those who are the victims are often poor.
“I think, in my personal opinion, our security infrastructure is actually one of the best in the world. Be a rich person in trouble. Drop money and see, they will bring the thief for you, am I lying? So maybe the problem is that, where the wickedness is happening, the voices there are poor. Maybe it doesn’t matter much to us as much as we pretend”, he said in part.
The cleric’s remarks came amid ongoing debates about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria and the country’s designation by the US as a Country of Particular Concern.
Lifestyle
What I Did When My Wife Was Diagnosed With HIV – Bishop Abioye
Founder of the Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly, Bishop David Abioye has shared how his wife, Mary Abioye, was wrongly diagnosed with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Naija News reports that the clergyman during a church service said she was later confirmed negative after prayers and strong faith in divine healing.
He explained that the medical test initially showed that his wife was HIV positive.
However, he refused to accept the result, declaring through faith that such illness could not affect his household.
After further medical checks, the result showed she was completely free from the virus.

Bishop Abioye explained that his response came from unshakable confidence in God’s power to heal, saying that faith must be firm when faced with challenges.
He said the incident tested his belief but ended as a testimony of God’s healing power.
The cleric also taught that healing, according to the scriptures, requires boldness and authority rather than fear or negotiation.
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He added that spiritual victory comes from resisting every form of sickness through faith and conviction.
He said: “During COVID, they said my wife had HIV. I said, ‘No, not in this body.’ I told them, ‘Do the check-up.’ They checked and couldn’t find anything there.
“Healing is not for gentlemen. You don’t negotiate sickness to go; you crush it to go. Some people are negotiating with bandits, and that’s why their problems persist.
“The prince of this world came to test me but found nothing.”
Bishop Abioye, who stepped down from Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel) in 2024, now leads Living Word Conquerors Global Assembly.
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