By Adejumo Kabir
The United States Department of Justice
has written to the United States
Magistrate Judge in Eastern District of
New York, Ramon Reyes, claiming that
the surety provided by Dapo Abiodun’s
aide, Abidemi Rufai, is a suspected
fraudster.

The Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorma,
in a letter obtained exclusively by
PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, said the
“surety is suspect in an investigation
into an email impersonation scheme.”

This newspaper reported how Mr Rufai
was arrested while trying to get out of
the U.S. on May 14.

He was accused of allegedly using 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.

Mr Rufai has since been suspended by
Governor Abiodun.
Last Tuesday, his lawyer, Michael
Barrow, said Mr Rufai denied
“involvement in these transactions.”

His first appearance in court was
Wednesday and he was denied bail
because his brother, Alaba Rufai, who
is listed in court records, could not post
the $300,000 surety bond for his bail.

However, a surety was presented on
Friday with the court ruling that a New
York state resident and family friend of
Mr Rufai could post the bond.

The surety, Nekpen Soyemi, a
registered nurse, whose family comes
from Nigeria, told the court that she
would guarantee the $300,000 bond and
allow Mr Rufai to stay at her and her
husband’s home.

However, the Magistrate Judge, Mr
Reyes, delayed the release of Mr Rufai
until May 25 to give enough time to
federal prosecutors to appeal the order.

Mr Rufai and a suspected
fraudster as surety

The Acting U.S. Attorney, Ms Gorma,
said in her letter to the court that Ms
Soyemi is a suspected fraudster and
should not be allowed to stand surety
for Mr Rufai.

“First, the FBI has conducted research
into the Surety and has learned
information indicating that the Surety is
not an appropriate person to perform
that role,” the letter partly read.

“In 2015, the Surety’s bank (Bank of
America) issued a report naming the
Surety as a suspect in an investigation
into an email impersonation scheme.

“According to the bank’s report, a
person purporting to be a donor
deposited $134,000 into the bank
account of a legitimate nonprofit. The
“donor” (who was never identified)
then contacted the non-profit and
stated that some of the deposited funds
were intended for a different recipient.

“The donor asked the non-profit to wire
the excess funds to three different
accounts, one of which was a Bank of
America account in the Surety’s name.

The report indicates that the Surety
then made cash withdrawals of the
proceeds at two different B of A
locations. The Surety did not respond to
inquiries from Bank of America.

“Second, FBI’s research was unable to
confirm that the Surety owns the listed
real property. Mortgage and deed
records for the property indicate that it
was last purchased by an individual
with the initials L.S.G. on November 7,
2014.”

She further said that the FBI could not
locate records showing that the Surety
has an interest in the property.

“The Surety has also submitted records
showing that she has $335 in
Robinhood investment account and
$1,838 in a checking account. Neither
submission suggests the Surety is in a
position to secure a $300,000 bond.”

The U.S. government
earlier told the court
that it is dangerous to
release Mr Rufai on bail, claiming the
suspect presents an extreme risk of
flight and “if he does escape to Nigeria,
extradition will be extraordinarily
difficult or impossible because of his
ties to the Nigerian government.”


Abidemi Rufai
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/463347-rufai-u-s-says-surety-provided-by-dapo-abioduns-aide-is-suspected-fraudster.html

It's shocking that a state government personnel would condescend to this level.. even to the extent that his surety is also a suspected fraudster..

It is evident that the entire Nigerian system is corrupt. Almost everyone is into one form of fraud or another.. even the former EFCC boss, Mr Ibrahim Magu is alleged to be involved in a sort financial scandal..

Where is the country headed?
It's regrettable.
This country needs purging. It begins with me. It begins with you.
For now, we don't have another country but Nigeria, while it's still one.. please let's put hands together to make it better.
I hope this serves as a lesson to all.

Meanwhile, this is my FTC.

Double wahala

Were they expecting someone of impeccable character doing honest Job in America wto come out and stand as surety for a fraudster ?

Investigate his lawyers when the times come. Disgracing his fraudulent governor and tribe up and down.