Oba Joseph Oloyede, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, is awaiting sentencing in the United States after pleading guilty in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud case.

The monarch, arrested by the FBI in connection with the “Benefit Boys” fraud network, admitted to filing false pandemic relief claims. He argued that financial pressures during the COVID-19 lockdown pushed him into crime and has appealed to the U.S. government for leniency.

Court documents revealed that the fraudulent scheme diverted funds meant to support struggling families and businesses at the height of the pandemic. Legal experts, however, note that U.S. courts often deliver harsh sentences in cases involving large-scale pandemic fraud.

The scandal has also left a cultural vacuum at home. Since Oba Oloyede’s arrest in May 2024, the Apetu throne has remained vacant, drawing disappointment among locals who say the case has tainted the town’s heritage.

His sentencing, scheduled for August 26, 2025, will not only determine his personal fate but may also shape the legacy of the Apetu throne, now clouded by one of the most high-profile fraud cases involving a Nigerian traditional ruler.