Abidemi Rufai, a former senior special assistant to Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun, has pleaded guilty to a wire fraud in the United States.
The Seattle Times reports that 45-year-old Rufai pleaded guilty on Tuesday in US District Court in Tacoma to charges that he used stolen Social Security numbers and other personal data to file $350,763 in fake claims for pandemic unemployment benefits in 2020.
The medium also quoted the US Attorney’s Office in Seattle as saying that Rufai pleaded guilty to stealing benefits from other states, as well as another $250,000 from other federal programmes.
From 2017 and 2020, Rufai filed fraudulent claims for $1.7 million in federal tax refunds, of which $90,877 was paid out.
Thelagostimes gathered that Rufai was arrested at New York’s JFK Airport on his way to Nigeria in May 2021.
Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson, Emily Langlie said in an email on Wednesday that Rufai has agreed to repay the stolen funds, though it wasn’t clear how he would make payments or whether his agreement meant he still had access to the stolen funds.
Last August, a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, had ordered the interim forfeiture of the funds and properties traced to Rufai.
Justice Tijjani Ringim made the order sequel to an ex parte motion filed and argued by a counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ebuka Okongwu.
Subsequently, governor Abiodun had suspended him and called for thorough investigation into the matter.
Rufai risks 30 years in prison for wire fraud.