Shocking: Nigerian King Faces Sentencing in $4.2M U.S. COVID-19 Fraud, Blames Pandemic for Crime

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Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, is set to be sentenced in the United States on August 26, 2025, after being convicted in a staggering $4.2 million COVID-19 benefit fraud case.

The monarch, arrested by the FBI and linked to the notorious “Benefit Boys” fraud network, admitted his involvement in siphoning pandemic relief funds but claimed the financial strain of the COVID-19 crisis drove him into the crime. He has pleaded with the U.S. government for leniency, citing hardship during the global pandemic.

Court documents revealed that the scheme targeted relief funds meant to support struggling families and businesses at the peak of the lockdown, diverting millions of dollars into fraudulent claims. The case has since raised international attention, given the monarch’s royal status and the magnitude of the fraud.

Back home in Nigeria, Oba Oloyede’s throne in Ipetumodu, Osun State, has remained vacant since May 2024, sparking concern and disappointment among locals who describe the scandal as a major dent to the town’s cultural heritage.

While the king begs for mercy, legal experts believe his chances are slim, as U.S. courts typically hand down tough sentences in large-scale fraud cases—especially when tied to pandemic relief funds.

The sentencing will determine not only Oba Oloyede’s fate but also the future of the Apetu throne, now overshadowed by one of the biggest fraud scandals involving a Nigerian monarch in recent history.