Abidemi Rufai, a former Ogun State official, was jailed in the United States on September 26, 2022, for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
He attempted to steal nearly $2.4 million from the U.S. government using stolen identities, including approximately $500,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
Rufai succeeded in defrauding 12 U.S. agencies of $600,000, which was paid into bank accounts he controlled.
Based on his plea agreement, Rufai agreed to pay full restitution of $604,260 to the defrauded agencies.
To partially offset this amount, the U.S. government auctioned two valuable items seized from him during his arrest—a Cartier watch and a gold chain necklace.
The watch sold for $4,720.00, and the necklace fetched $3,160.00, yielding net proceeds of $7,086.69 after deducting shipping expenses and sales commission.
These proceeds were applied to Rufai’s restitution balance, leaving him indebted to the U.S. government for $597,573.312.
Rufai was released from prison in mid-November 2024, but his current whereabouts remain unknown.
