The old city of Marrakech (the ancient medina) in Morocco feels like stepping into another world. Narrow streets, colorful markets, handmade crafts, spice smells in the air, and historic buildings everywhere — it’s a living piece of history that never stops moving.

#Marrakech #Morocco #Medina #TravelAfrica

Sheikh Faisal Al Nu’man Dies After 25 Years as Iconic Voice of Prophet’s Mosque in Medina

Sheikh Faisal bin Abdul Malik Al Nu’man, one of the most recognisable voices of Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina, has died after a brief illness, bringing to an end more than two decades of devoted service as a muadhin. Appointed in 2001, he served for 25 years, calling the adhan during historic congregations, Ramadan nights, peak pilgrimage seasons, and major mosque expansions. Known for his calm, measured and serene delivery, Sheikh Faisal continued a multi-generational family tradition, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who also served as muadhins at the Prophet’s Mosque. Funeral prayers were held at Masjid an-Nabawi, with burial at Al Baqi cemetery, as tributes poured in from worshippers and Islamic institutions worldwide.

U.S. Court Jails Apetu of Ipetumodu for 56 Months Over COVID-19 Loan Fraud.

The Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to more than four years in prison in the United States for COVID-19 loan fraud.

Oloyede, 62, who holds dual Nigerian and U.S. citizenship and resides in Medina, Ohio, was on August 26 sentenced to 56 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch will also serve three years of supervised release and pay $4.4 million in restitution.

“He also forfeited his Medina home on Foote Road, which he had acquired with proceeds of the scheme, and an additional $96,006.89 in fraud proceeds investigators had seized,” the statement said. Prosecutors said Oloyede conspired with Edward Oluwasanmi to exploit emergency loan programmes meant for struggling businesses.

“From about April 2020 to February 2022, Oloyede and his co-conspirator… conspired to submit fraudulent applications for loans that were made available through the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act,” the Attorney’s Office noted.

Court documents show Oloyede was arrested on May 4, 2024, following a 13-count indictment. The FBI accused him of using six registered companies to obtain loans fraudulently, falsifying documents, and diverting the funds for personal use. In June 2020 alone, he secured over $100,000 in loans for four companies—Available Tax Services, Available Tutors, Available Financial, and Available Transportation.

He later obtained two separate $500,000 loans for JO&A and Available Transportation in October 2021. Investigators also revealed that Oloyede, an accountant, assisted others in filing false applications, collecting a percentage of disbursed loans.

“Oloyede assisted co-conspirators and confederate borrowers who submitted and caused to be submitted PPP and EIDL loan applications containing false information,” prosecutors stated.

News Brief: Nigerian Monarch Jailed 4 Years In U.S. Over $4.2m COVID-19 Fraud

The Apetu of Ipetumodu, Osun State, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has been sentenced to 56 months (over 4 years) in a U.S. prison for his role in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme.

Oloyede, 62, who holds dual citizenship, was convicted of conspiring to submit fraudulent applications for emergency loans under the CARES Act between 2020 and 2022.

U.S. District Judge Christopher A. Boyko also ordered him to pay $4.4 million in restitution, forfeit his Medina, Ohio home, and serve three years of supervised release after prison.

According to the FBI, Oloyede used his six companies to falsify records and secure loans meant for struggling businesses, diverting funds for personal use. He also assisted others in similar fraud schemes for a fee.

#Fraud #COVID19Relief #USJustice

COVID-19 Drove Me Into $4.2m Fraud, Apetu of Ipetumodu Tells U.S. Court.

The Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, has pleaded for leniency before a U.S. court after admitting guilt in a $4.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud case that has drawn widespread attention in both Nigeria and the United States.

In a sentencing memorandum filed on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, before Judge Christopher Boyko of the Northern District of Ohio, the monarch’s lawyers argued that the coronavirus pandemic played a major role in pushing him into the crime. “COVID-19 affected all of us differently.

Conduct that we would never expect from ourselves or others sometimes manifested itself as we encountered a completely different society,” his counsel stated, adding that while the pandemic was not an excuse, it was a key factor, especially for Mr. Oloyede, who faced health challenges during the outbreak.

The 62-year-old traditional ruler was arrested by the FBI in May 2024 after disappearing from Nigeria two months earlier, sparking concerns in Ipetumodu over his absence from major traditional festivals such as Odun Egungun and Odun Edi.

He was accused of using six companies to file fraudulent loan applications under the U.S. Paycheck Protection Programme and Economic Injury Disaster Loan schemes.

Court records revealed that Oba Oloyede, who migrated to the U.S. in the late 1990s, had previously built a respectable career as a banker and adjunct professor before returning to Nigeria in 2019 to assume the throne. His lawyers described the fraud as a complete departure from his past life of service and responsibility, stressing that he had shown remorse and accepted full responsibility.

Prosecutors disclosed that part of the fraud proceeds were laundered through personal and business accounts, leading to the seizure of a Medina County property in Ohio and over $96,000 from one of his company’s bank accounts.

He was granted bail after surrendering both his U.S. and Nigerian passports but has since remained under court restrictions pending sentencing. Oba Oloyede, a father of six and foster parent to several others, is now scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2025.

Democrats Arrested In Fraud Investigation – Trump Was RIGHT Again.

Indictments have been issued in Texas as part of a sweeping investigation into alleged illegal ballot harvesting, with a former Democratic Party County Chair and eight others now facing serious charges. Juan Manuel Medina, who previously served as the Bexar County Democratic Chair and also ran for mayor of San Antonio, has been named in a pair of vote-harvesting indictments. The development stems from an ongoing probe led by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office has been investigating election-related irregularities across multiple counties.

Documents linked to the case indicate that Medina was allegedly involved in efforts to secure votes for Democrat Cecilia Castellano, who ran unsuccessfully in 2024 for the Texas House District 80 seat, losing to Republican Don McLaughlin.

Allegations in the indictment suggest that offers of compensation or benefits were made to two individuals, Rachel Leal and former Dilley Council Member Inelda Rodriguez, in February 2024, in exchange for participation in vote-harvesting activities. Castellano, Leal, and Rodriguez were also included among those indicted.

Castellano’s attorney has rejected all allegations, asserting that no unlawful actions took place. Don Flanary, her legal counsel, argued that the charges appear to lack strong evidence and may discourage future political involvement, according to reporting from The Texas Tribune.