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Abidemi Rufai, an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, has spoken on his alleged involvement in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud.
Mr Rufai was
His attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York, on Tuesday, said Mr Rufai denied
Mr Barrows also said if granted bail, he (Rufai) “doesn’t represent a flight risk, in part because he has given up his passport.”
The lawyer argued that his client could be “prevented from fleeing through less restrictive means than having him remain in jail, including travel restrictions and electronic surveillance.”
Mr Barrows said those with more grievous allegations are released on self-recognisance.
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A federal magistrate in New York has rejected the bail application of Abidemi Rufai, an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.
Mr Rufai is currently enmeshed in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States.
He was arraigned on Wednesday before Magistrate Ramon Reyes.
Mr Rufai’s lawyer, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York, said the suspect’s brother, Alaba Rufai, who is listed in court records told the court Wednesday morning that he could not afford the $300,000 surety bond for his bail
As a result, Mr Reyes ruled that Mr Rufai should remain detention.
Mr Barrows told
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Published 20 May 2021
A federal magistrate in New York ruled on Wednesday that Abidemi Rufai, a Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, charged for $350,000 employment fraud in Washington cannot be released before his trial.
The 42-year-old was arrested on Friday evening on his way back to Nigeria at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York based on criminal complaint.
He was subsequently charged with defrauding Washington State Employment Security Department of over $350,000.
Rufai made his initial appearance last Saturday in New York and he appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, he asked a federal court to release him to the custody of his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is an attorney in New York, according to federal prosecutors and Abidemi Rufai’s private attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York.
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A senior special assistant to the Ogun State governor, Abidemi Rufai, faces up to 30 years in prison if he is convicted of wire fraud.
According to the United States department of justice, wire fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison when it relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rufai, who served as the deputy director-general of the Dapo Abiodun campaign organization in the last governorship election in the state, was arrested on Friday at the JFK Airport in New York, United States of America, on a criminal complaint of wire fraud for his scheme to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department, the acting US Attorney, Tessa M. Gorman, announced.
Suspended Governor Abiodun s Aide Faces 30 Years In United States Jail Over $350,000 Fraud saharareporters.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from saharareporters.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.