BREAKING: U.S. Jails Nigerian Pastor Edward Oluwasanmi Over $4.2 Million COVID-19 Relief Scam

In a stunning case that has rattled both religious and immigrant communities, a Nigerian pastor, Edward Oluwasanmi, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison by a United States federal court for orchestrating a massive $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud.

The sentence was handed down after months of investigations revealed how the preacher manipulated government aid systems meant to support struggling Americans during the height of the pandemic.

According to U.S. Department of Justice officials, Oluwasanmi, who posed as the leader of a small church in California, masterminded an elaborate scheme involving fake businesses, falsified documents, and coordinated identity thefts to siphon millions from federal COVID-19 aid programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).

Prosecutors disclosed that he submitted over 80 fraudulent applications, many under stolen identities, claiming phantom payrolls and non-existent business losses.

Once the funds were disbursed, he allegedly laundered large portions through shell accounts, international transfers, and personal purchases—including luxury goods and expensive vehicles.

The scam unraveled when financial intelligence flagged multiple applications bearing the same IP address and irregular patterns in fund withdrawals across state lines.

In court, Oluwasanmi pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, citing pressure to sustain his “ministry” during uncertain times.

But the judge, unmoved by the plea, declared that such exploitation of national emergency funds was not only criminal but “morally bankrupt.” He was also ordered to pay restitution and faces possible deportation upon completing his sentence.

The arrest and sentencing have sparked intense reactions online, particularly among Nigerians abroad.

Many expressed shock at how a man of the cloth could exploit a global crisis for personal gain, while others say it adds to the growing list of Nigerians entangled in international fraud cases that continue to damage the country’s image globally.

As the U.S. continues to crack down on pandemic-related financial crimes, Oluwasanmi’s case serves as a grim reminder that no title—pastor or not—grants immunity from justice.

His pulpit has now been replaced with a prison cell, and his once-praised sermons have been silenced by the echo of a federal conviction.