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Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud - Crime - Nairaland

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Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by funkybroyouknow: 2:57am On May 21, 2021
How Dapo Abiodun’s aide was arrested trying to jet out of U.S.
Court documents filed against Abidemi Rufai, an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, have shown how the suspect was arrested by operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following his alleged involvement in a $350,000 (about N140 million) COVID-19 unemployment fraud.

PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday obtained an affidavit sworn before the United State Districts Court at Eastern District of New York by Andrea Desanto, FBI special agent in charge of Mr Rufai’s case.

According to Ms Desanto, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington issued an arrest warrant commanding the arrest of Mr Rufai on May 14, 2021, for violations of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 (wire fraud).

“On or about May 13, 2021, law enforcement received information that ABIDEMI RUFAI would be boarding Royal Dutch Airlines flight KL644 at John F. Kennedy International Airport (“JFK Airport”) in Queens, New York to Amsterdam, with a final destination of Lagos, Nigeria.

“At approximately 7:45 p.m. on May 14, 2021, RUFAI arrived at JFK Airport. Law enforcement officers met RUFAI, who waived his Miranda rights and agreed to speak to law enforcement officers without an attorney present. While speaking with law enforcement officers, RUFAI verified his name and date of birth,” part of the affidavit read.

“In his possession, RUFAI had, among other things, a Nigerian identification card and various credit cards listing a name matching that of the defendant ABIDEMI RUFAI. In addition, RUFAI had in his possession a Nigerian passport, which listed a name and date of birth matching that of the defendant ABIDEMI RUFAI.

“RUFAI’S appearance matched photographs from the defendant ABIDEMI RUFAI’s passport and identification cards. I further recognized RUFAI from the defendant ABIDEMI RUFAI’s 2019 visa application photograph and from secondary inspection photographs taken by United States Customs and Border Patrol in 2017 and 2020.

“RUFAI’s appearance also matched photographs obtained from the defendant ABIDEMI RUFAI’s social media accounts as well as photographs obtained from the defendant ABIDEMI RUFAI’s Google Drive account pursuant to a judicially authorized search warrant, as detailed in the Complaint,” the court affidavit showed.

Back story

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how Mr Rufai used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

He is also suspected to be defrauding unemployment programs in Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Wire fraud, according to the United States Department of Justice, is punishable by up to thirty years in prison when it relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

This newspaper also reported how the suspect bypassed security systems at the Employment Security Department using a simple feature of Google’s free Gmail service.

“Rufai used the dot variant addresses to create multiple accounts in the Washington state system that authenticates online users of government services, the complaint alleges. Rufai was then able to file for unemployment benefits with the ESD using stolen personal identities of real Washington residents,” the complaint said.

He was also actively engaged in stealing and retaining the personal identifying information of American citizens.

Following the report on Mr Rufai’s alleged fraud, his principal, Mr Abiodun has announced his suspension from Ogun government.

The suspect has also come under severe attacks on social media as Nigeria criticized him for his involvement in the alleged fraud.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/462419-how-dapo-abioduns-aide-was-arrested-trying-to-jet-out-of-u-s.html
mynd4
lala frontpage

Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by ChiefSosa(m): 3:06am On May 21, 2021
Our politicians just can't do without stealing, no matter how small or big the position they occupy. Just take a lot at what this chubby animal did. He thought they'll pity him 'cause he's a Kalahari goat; such a funny bald-headed animal he is. The police should put 3 liters of groundnut oil on fire for 15 minutes, put the oil in a metal syringe then, inject into his veins. A tiny rod that's been put in fire for hours should then be put in his penis hole. His asshole should be brutally violated with a rusted knife. Then hang him in the sun till he withers away. All these should be done in the presence of his loved ones. He's lucky I'm in a good mood.
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by Bola146(f): 3:32am On May 21, 2021
And Jesus wept cry cry Selfishness and ojukokoro undecided
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by Pmpm: 5:18am On May 21, 2021
Ppl.dey thief sha
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by SALIMAN(m): 5:32am On May 21, 2021
Benefit , EDD Scape Goat
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by funkybroyouknow: 5:37am On May 21, 2021
ChiefSosa:
Our politicians just can't do without stealing, no matter how small or big the position they occupy. Just take a lot at what this chubby animal did. He thought they'll pity him 'cause he's a Kalahari goat; such a funny bald-headed animal he is. The police should put 3 liters of groundnut oil on fire for 15 minutes, put the oil in a metal syringe then, inject into his veins. A tiny rod that's been put in fire for hours should then be put in his penis hole. His asshole should be brutally violated with a rusted knife. Then hang him in the sun till he withers away. All these should be done in the presence of his loved ones. He's lucky I'm in a good mood.
No need bro, US authorities don't play around, look at the sentencing shocked
Wire fraud, according to the United States Department of Justice, is punishable by up to thirty years in prison when it relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by zoedew: 6:25am On May 21, 2021
funkybroyouknow:
How Dapo Abiodun’s aide was arrested trying to jet out of U.S.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/462419-how-dapo-abioduns-aide-was-arrested-trying-to-jet-out-of-u-s.html
mynd4
lala frontpage
One hopes this won’t lead to the investigation of Dapo Abiodun in the U.K. Difficult to imagine he’ll know him so closely without knowing his ways especially given that they are both Nigerians IN DIASPORA! Who you flock with oftentimes signposts who you be!
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by zoedew: 6:31am On May 21, 2021
funkybroyouknow:

No need bro, US authorities don't play around, look at the sentencing shocked
“UP TO”. He may get a lesser sentence if he cooperates with the Prosecution! Ibori is back home living large and showcasing Harvard Business School Certificate instead of a Certificate of Repentance evidenced by a changed life. Invictus Obi will be back any moment. Hush puppy may soon be back at barking Gucci from his leftovers.
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by zoedew: 6:35am On May 21, 2021
ChiefSosa:
Our politicians just can't do without stealing, no matter how small or big the position they occupy. Just take a lot at what this chubby animal did. He thought they'll pity him 'cause he's a Kalahari goat; such a funny bald-headed animal he is. The police should put 3 liters of groundnut oil on fire for 15 minutes, put the oil in a metal syringe then, inject into his veins. A tiny rod that's been put in fire for hours should then be put in his penis hole. His asshole should be brutally violated with a rusted knife. Then hang him in the sun till he withers away. All these should be done in the presence of his loved ones. He's lucky I'm in a good mood.
You must be a member of the Military!
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by Nobody: 6:43am On May 21, 2021
HOLLY GRAM cool WTF. REAL NIGGA SITED
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by paulolee(m): 9:04am On May 21, 2021
politicians self de bomb agents..
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by ifytrik(m): 9:07am On May 21, 2021
Bola146:
And Jesus wept cry cry Selfishness and ojukokoro undecided
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by ifytrik(m): 9:08am On May 21, 2021
Pmpm:
Ppl.dey thief sha
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by ChiefSosa(m): 9:29am On May 21, 2021
zoedew:

You must be a member of the Military!
Lol, my dad was so, I know one or two. Plus, I'm sort of a psychopath towards criminals.
Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by ChiefSosa(m): 9:34am On May 21, 2021
Johnwicka:
HOLLY GRAM cool WTF. REAL NIGGA SITED
Do you like this design? I also do home delivery.

Re: Ogun Aide Charged With Stealing ₦144 Million In U.S. COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud by zoedew: 11:24am On May 21, 2021
ChiefSosa:

Lol, my dad was so, I know one or two. Plus, I'm sort of a psychopath towards criminals.
I will keep you off criminal investigations! Lolzzzz.

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