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U.S. Court Sentences Nigerian National for COVID-19 Relief Fund Fraud

Temitope Bashua, a Nigerian residing in the United States, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that illegally obtained over $290,000 in COVID-19 relief funds.

Details of the Fraudulent Scheme

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher imposed the sentence, highlighting Bashua’s central role in a conspiracy designed to deceitfully secure unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) from the federal government. This information was confirmed in an official release by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ).

At 29 years old, Bashua also faces two years of supervised release following his prison term. He pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including cyber intrusion, romance scams, and business email compromise fraud, as part of a plea agreement.

Modus Operandi and Impact

According to the DoJ, in October 2020, Bashua and his co-conspirators submitted fraudulent EIDL applications to the Small Business Administration (SBA) using stolen personal information from unsuspecting victims. These applications were for fictitious businesses, enabling them to unlawfully receive substantial funds.

As a direct consequence of these deceitful applications, Bashua obtained more than $290,000 in relief funds.

Further court records reveal that between May 2020 and September 2022, Bashua and his associates impersonated individuals to file false unemployment claims in states including Maryland and California, all without the victims’ awareness or permission.

Broader Context: Rising COVID-19 Relief Fraud Cases

This sentencing is part of a growing crackdown on fraudulent activities related to COVID-19 relief funds, particularly involving members of the Nigerian diaspora. For instance, in August, Joseph Oloyede, a traditional ruler from Osun State known as the Apetu of Ipetumodu, received a five-year prison sentence in the U.S. for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme.

These cases underscore the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in safeguarding pandemic relief programs from exploitation.