Another Nigerian Faces 96 Years in U.S. Prison Over Multi-Million Dollar COVID Relief Fraud

A 25-year-old Nigerian national, Oluwanishola Oyeyipo Jinadu, is facing multiple federal charges in the United States over a sprawling COVID-19 relief fraud scheme targeting key emergency support programs under the CARES Act.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced that Jinadu, who had overstayed his B1/B2 visitor visa and was residing in the U.S. illegally, was indicted on February 26, 2025. He now faces a 17-count indictment including charges of theft of government funds, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements in immigration documents.

According to court filings, Jinadu is accused of orchestrating a complex fraud operation that exploited the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program—an emergency initiative designed to supplement state unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities allege that Jinadu received benefits fraudulently filed in the names of at least five unsuspecting victims from Washington, Massachusetts, and Kansas. The stolen funds were allegedly funneled directly into his personal bank accounts.

Prosecutors further claim that Jinadu targeted the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), another pillar of pandemic relief, designed to help small businesses stay afloat. Using stolen identities from at least three individuals in Oklahoma, he allegedly secured more than $65,000 in PPP loans.

In a twist of audacity, Jinadu reportedly applied for permanent residency in the U.S. shortly after committing the alleged crimes. On official forms, he denied ever committing a crime and certified the information as “complete, true, and correct” under penalty of perjury—an act now forming part of the charges against him.

He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brian McKay and now faces up to 96 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts.

The case is being jointly investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General, and Homeland Security Investigations in Dallas. Prosecutors Tiffany H. Eggers and Madeline S. Case are leading the federal government’s case.

It is important to note that an indictment is not a finding of guilt. Mr. Jinadu, like all criminal defendants, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.