Identities used by Governor Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai to commit $350K fraud have been exposed.[PHOTOS]

Identities used by Governor Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai to commit $350K fraud have been exposed.[PHOTOS]

Eaglesforesight reports that Abidemi Rufai, the suspended Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, allegedly boycotted the United States data system using 10 different emails in 14 days.

A document obtained from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington also showed that Abidemi’s action allegedly violated Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 and Title 18, United States Code, Section 2.

“The Grand Jury further alleges that each of these violations occurred in relation to, and involved, benefit payments authorized, transmitted, transferred, disbursed, and paid in connection with a presidentially declared major disaster and emergency,” part of the document read.

Abidemi Rufai has been in U.S. custody since his arrest on May 14, 2021, at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

He was subsequently charged with defrauding Washington State Employment Security Department of over $350,000.

The indictment has led to his suspension as a Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Though he applied for bail on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, the application was denied, as his brother could not afford the $300,000 “surety bond.”

The suspect is detained at the Western District of Washington, from where he is attending further court proceedings.

However, the 42-year-old Nigerian had denied the criminal charges filed against him.

According to the court documents obtained by The PUNCH, the suspended Ogun governor’s aide allegedly attempted to defraud the US agency using a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act enacted on March 27, 2020.

Timeline

A timeline of the execution of the alleged fraud showed that Abidemi reportedly activated the first e-mail address for the wire transmission on April 27, 2020.

Abidemi, who assumed the name  Sandy Tang for the purpose of the fraud, generated variants of sandytangy58@gmail.com to bypass the US data system for the wire transmission.

Identities of persons used