US District Judge, Benjamin Settle has said that the Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties to the Ogun State Governor, arrested for N342 fraud may be jailed in the US.
The SA, Abidemi Rufai, was arrested by the FBI at JFK International Airport, New York, for alleged monumental fraud of employment benefits to the tune of $342 million. He was arrested by American Federal Agents as he attempted to leave the Country.
Rufai was alleged to have used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal the money in the employment security department of Washington state during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
According to our source, he was granted bail, but he was not able to meet up with the bail conditions and he must stay at the home of a family friend in New York, where his location would be monitored always with an ankle bracelet. He is barred from traveling outside New York City.
‘ Government officials can check up on him at any time to make sure he abides by the rules, if he disobeys, he can be detained again.
“While Rufai travel documents have been seized, federal attorney says he has a history of forging identity documents, and could possibly have a fake passport made.
Federal attorneys also stated that he has every reason to want to go back home, not only because his wife, children, and governmental career are there, but also because he faces possible decades of prison term if he is found guilty and convicted in the coming trial with the Western District of Washington
“The U.S attorney’s office for the Western District of Washington considers Rufai as an economic danger to the community after what may have been the largest fraud ever against the Washington state government, according to court documents”
A security source hinted that he was picked at JFK airport in New York and is facing charges of stealing and other related offences:” We have recovered part of the whole $272 million is gone.
Our source further hinted that 10 other states were still looking for him and may also bring more charges against him.
Earlier, Ogu State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has suspended Rufai.
Chief Press Secretary to Abiodun, Mr. Kunle Somorin, in a Press Statement, stated that:
” The Ogun State government has ordered the immediate suspension of the accused appointee”.
