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Abidemi Rufai: U.S. govt seeks forfeiture of Ogun gov’s aide’s $600,000 proceeds of fraud

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The United States government has asked the District Court in Tacoma to order the forfeiture of Abidemi Rufai’s $604,260 being the interest that accrued from his commission of wire fraud.

The amount translates to about N252 million when converted at official exchange rate and N392 million based on the prevailing rate in the volatile parallel market.

Rufai, a senior special assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, was arrested in May 2021. He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He admitted using stolen identities to claim hundreds of thousands of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment benefits, U.S. Attorney, Nick Brown, said.

He has been in custody since his arrest at New York’s JFK airport in May 2021.

According to the plea agreement, since 2017, Rufai unlawfully obtained the personal identifying information for more than 20,000 Americans to submit more than $2 million in claims for federally funded benefits under a variety of relief programs. The various agencies involved paid out more than $600,000.

In a fresh move, the U.S. government through its lawyer, Nicholas Brown, on 4 August, urged the court to accede to a forfeiture request.

According to court filings, Mr Brown based the application on the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure of the United States.

See also  Alleged $350,000 Fraud: Abidemi Rufai set for release on bail

The document reminded the court of Rufai’s guilty plea to the fraud on 3 May 2022.

The court papers highlighted how Mr Rufai defrauded U.S. citizens of various sums through the Washington Employment Security Department where $350,763 was stolen.

At Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, $10,166, was stolen, while US Small Business Administration lost $10,000 to Mr Rufai’s fraudulent activities, amongst other key US institutions.

“The sum of these amounts is $604,260. Therefore, the United States is requesting an order of forfeiture in that amount, requesting the total proceeds defendant obtained from his wire fraud scheme,” the application read in part.

The government says it will “request the Attorney General apply any amounts it collects toward satisfaction of this forfeited sum to the restitution that is ordered.”

Serial fraud
The plea agreement revealed that since 2017, Rufai unlawfully obtained the personal identifying information for more than 20,000 Americans to submit more than $2 million in claims for federally funded benefits under a variety of relief programs. The various agencies involved paid out more than $600,000.

The largest amount of fraud was committed against the Washington State Employment Security Department, which paid out $350,763 in fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims to accounts controlled by the con politician.

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The Nigerian also submitted fraudulent pandemic unemployment claims in at least 17 other states.

Mr Rufai also defrauded the Small Business Administration (SBA) by attempting to obtain Economic Injury Disaster loans (EIDL) tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between April 8, 2020, and June 26, 2020, he submitted 19 fraudulent EIDL applications. SBA paid out $10,000 based on the applications.

Between 2017 and 2020, Mr Rufai attempted to obtain more than $1.7 million in IRS tax refunds by submitting 675 false claims. The IRS paid out $90,877 on these claims.

Court documents showed that Rufai’s attempts to fraudulently enrich himself with false disaster claims precedes the coronavirus pandemic crisis.

For instance, in September and October 2017, he submitted 49 disaster relief claims connected to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. Rufai submitted $24,500 in false claims and was paid on 13 claims totaling $6,500.

On 17 May, 2021, the U.S. Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud such as the one perpetrated by Abidemi Rufai.

See also  Why Abidemi Rufai should not be granted bail – U.S. Govt.

Rufai’s case was investigated by the FBI, with assistance from the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the United States Small Business Administration Office of the Inspector General.

Sentence proposal
Prosecutors have agreed to recommend no more than 71 months in prison. The recommendation is not binding on U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle, a court filing says.

Judge has fixed Monday, 15 August, for the sentencing, which will be determined after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Background

In preparation for trial, the United States government had submitted a 97,000-page material in court as part of evidence to be used against the defendant.

“Discovery in this case is voluminous and complex,” the prosecution and the defence said in the document they jointly filed to ask for the postponement of the trial date that was then scheduled for 31 August, 2021.

The trial has been adjourned on different occasions while Mr Rufai remained in detention.

After his initial denial of the charges, the defendant admitted his guilt in the plea agreement filed in the court in May. He is now awaiting sentencing.

 

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Okada rider stabbed to death over N100 ticket in Ogun

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A commercial motorcyclist has reportedly been stabbed to death by a transport union tax collection group, popularly known as agberos, following an argument over a N100 ticket in the Ijoko area of Ogun State.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Tuesday night after a disagreement between the deceased and some levy collectors escalated into a violent confrontation.

While it was unclear if the suspect had been arrested, the killing reportedly sparked protests by commercial motorcyclists across Lambe, Agbado and Akute communities.

Some riders were seen confronting levy collectors in parts of the affected areas, disrupting transport activities and forcing many commuters to trek to their destinations.

A motorcyclist said that two persons were stabbed during the altercation, but only one survived.

“They were fighting over a N100 ticket. It started as a small argument before it escalated on Tuesday night. The person who was killed is one of the motorcyclists from Nasarawa,” he said.

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“His colleagues are the ones now confronting agberos in Lambe, Ijoko and parts of Akute.”

Another rider in Akute confirmed the incident, saying tensions had remained high since the killing.

“The man was stabbed to death by one of the agberos during an argument over the ticket. The agbero suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed him,” he said.

“Some riders have refused to work since then, which is why there are fewer commercial motorcyclists around today. The police are aware and arrested some people during another confrontation.”

Violent clashes between commercial motorcyclists and levy collectors are not new in the state. In recent years, riders have repeatedly protested what they describe as extortion and harassment.

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VIDEO: Police bust illegal baby factory in Ekiti

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The Ekiti State Police Command says its operatives have uncovered an illegal baby factory located in Ikere Local Government Area of the state.

The state commissioner of police, Joe Eribo, who disclosed this to journalists, said the command received a tip-off and arrested one Onyechi Oluwadare, alongside four other suspects behind a popular hotel along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.

Other people arrested were, Onuoha Gloria, Victoria Linus, Ihegbogu Mercy, and a pregnant woman, Emmanuel Esther.

 

The statement read in part, “On the 24/01/2026 at about 08:30hrs, the Command received a credible tip-off that the prime suspect, Oluwadare Onyechi, a 43-year old woman, runs an illegal baby gactory alongside four other suspects somewhere behind Inisa Hotel and Suit, along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.

“Upon the receipt of the information, the Command Operatives swung into action, cordon off the premises used for the illegal business, and arrested Oluwadare Onyechi and four other accomplices namely, Onuoha Gloria ‘28 yrs’, Victoria Linus ‘25 yrs’, Ihegbogu Mercy ‘21 yrs’ and a heavily pregnant Emmanuel Esther ’23yrs’.

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“Search was conducted in the premises and six children within the age of 2 and 9 reasonably suspected to be under bondage and exploitation were rescued. Items such as baby delivery materials, some rolls of dexamethasone tablet, and some bottles of Goya oil were recovered from the scene”.

The prime suspect in the alleged baby factory, Onyechi, denied the allegations, saying she only prays in the building for those seeking God’s favour.

The Command’s operatives also arrested one Ibrahim Abubakar, a notorious cattle rustler.

Investigation revealed that Ibrahim Abubakar has over the years, rustled numerous cattle in Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi States and has been on the wanted list of the three States.

During investigation, Ibrahim Abubakar confessed that he is into cattle rustling business and equally mentioned different occasions in the past where he attacked Cattle owners and made away with their cattle.

A large number of rustled cattle numbering two hundred and fifty-five(255) were recovered from him, alongside other 303 cattles recovered from prime suspect, making 558 cattles.

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NAFDAC uncovers fake Goya oil factory, counterfeit alcoholic drinks syndicate in Lagos

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Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have uncovered an illegal factory producing fake Goya oil in Lagos.

The agency also dismantled a major syndicate involved in the counterfeiting of alcoholic drinks in Lagos, warning that the activities pose grave dangers to public health.

Martins Iluyomade, Director of Investigation and Enforcement at NAFDAC and Chairman of the Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, said the discoveries were made during surveillance and enforcement operations carried out over the past few weeks.

“We have carried out a couple of activities in recent weeks, and what we discovered was very surprising to us. We felt it was important to speak with Nigerians so they can know what has been going on,” Iluyomade said.

He disclosed that NAFDAC operatives uncovered an illegal operation inside Oke-Arin market, Lagos, where counterfeit Goya oil was being produced locally.

“The original Goya oil is imported into this country through a reputable company, and there are still original products in circulation. But we discovered that some people were faking this product and manufacturing it inside the market,” he said.

According to Iluyomade, the fake oil was produced by burning palm oil and adding chlorine, using crude equipment like stove.

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“They were using a stove. We saw the stove and everything they were using. We also saw a large number of empty bottles they were refilling and repackaging,” he added.

Iluyomade warned Nigerians, particularly, churches and prayer houses, stressing that original Goya oil is never packaged in plastic (PET) bottles.

“Let me say this clearly to everybody—churches, prayer houses, and anywhere this oil is used: there is no original Goya oil packed in plastic bottles. Original Goya oil comes in glass bottles,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to report anyone selling the product in plastic bottles to the nearest NAFDAC office.

“Anywhere you see Goya oil being sold in PET bottles, report it. People should beware, noting that the use of fake anointing oils in religious settings had become widespread and dangerous.

“Some people even drink anointing oil. You are not drinking anointing oil—you are drinking poison,” Iluyomade said.

The enforcement director explained that NAFDAC’s strategy is to halt production at the source rather than punish unsuspecting traders.

“We are stopping the production. Once there is no new supply, whatever is in the market will dry up,” he said.

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“We do not want to compound the problem of market women and others who may not know. But for the producers, it is the end of the road.”

He appealed to religious bodies to cooperate with the agency.

“We are not issuing threats, but it will not be nice for us to arrest people within your premises. Please partner with us and do not allow the sale or use of this product,” he said.

Iluyomade also revealed that NAFDAC had busted a major operation involved in the production of fake alcoholic drinks in Lagos.

“The faking of alcoholic drinks has become seriously endemic in Nigeria because it is one of the easiest products to counterfeit,” he said.

He said a suspect, Mr. Moses Nelson, was arrested in the Badagry area of Lagos and has been charged to court.

“In his house, we found all manner of fake products—virtually every major brand. There was none we did not see,” Iluyomade said.

According to him, the syndicate operated a distribution chain, producing the drinks in Badagry and supplying them to major markets across Lagos.

See also  Ogun Gov’s ex-aide pleads guilty to $350,000 fraud in US

NAFDAC also warned distributors against patronising unauthorised suppliers.

“You know the original owners of these brands. Why buy from people you know are not the owners just to make more money? In the process, you are killing people,” he cautioned.

He also advised Nigerians to be wary of unusually cheap products.

“If the normal price is five naira and someone offers it at three naira, you should be suspicious. The little money you want to save, I hope you will not spend it in the hospital,” he said.

Stating that no one has the right to endanger the lives of others, Iluyomade appealed to Nigerians engaged in such illegal businesses to desist.

“We are all Nigerians and everyone wants to make ends meet, but no Nigerian has the right to make ends meet at the expense of the health of another Nigerian,” he said.

“No one has the right to make huge profits while increasing the health burden of this country.”

He assured Nigerians that NAFDAC would sustain enforcement actions nationwide and urged the public to stop patronising counterfeit products and report suspicious activities to the agency.

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