The Osun State Government has said it will obtain the Certified True Copy of the judgment convicting and sentencing the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, over a multimillion-dollar COVID-19 relief fund fraud in the United States.

Naijaonpoint had earlier reported that Oba Oloyede, 62, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the U.S., was on Tuesday sentenced to 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko. He was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release and to pay $4,408,543.38 in restitution.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch forfeited his Medina, Ohio, residence, purchased with proceeds of the scheme, along with an additional $96,006.89 linked to fraudulent transactions.

Court filings showed that between April 2020 and February 2022, Oloyede, who operated as a tax preparer and ran five businesses and a nonprofit organisation, conspired with 62-year-old Edward Oluwasanmi of Willoughby, Ohio, to exploit COVID-19 loan schemes.

They submitted falsified applications under the Paycheck Protection Programme and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan scheme, defrauding the U.S. government of more than $4.2m.

Oloyede later pleaded guilty to six counts bordering on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns.

Speaking with Punch on Wednesday, Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Dosu Babatunde, stated that the government would not take action based on unverified reports.

He 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.”

Despite the conviction, calm prevailed in Ipetumodu on Wednesday, although residents discussed the matter in hushed tones.

A source told Punch that chiefs met at the palace to deliberate on the monarch’s fate.

The most senior chief in the community, Sunday Adedeji, said, “May God never allow chaos in our community. By the grace of God, He will be in total and complete control. There is no crisis in the town, and we do not envisage any.”