The Osun State Government has said it will obtain the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of a United States court that sent the Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Olugbenga Oloyede, to prison over a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fund fraud.
Recall that Oloyede, 62, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the US, was on Tuesday sentenced to 56 months imprisonment by a US District Judge, Christopher A. Boyko.
Osun monarch jailed 56 months in US for $4.2m COVID-19 relief fraud
He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and refund $4,408,543.38 in restitution.
According to the US 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.
Oloyede was convicted for leading a conspiracy to exploit COVID-19 emergency loan programmes designed to assist struggling small businesses.
Confirming the development on Wednesday, the Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Dosu Babatunde, said the government would not rely on social media reports in handling such a sensitive issue.
Osun drags FG through Supreme Court for withheld allocationsBabatunde said: “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.
“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.”
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