U.S. Judge John F. Heil III has reversed an earlier ruling that granted bail to alleged notorious Nigerian fraudster Bolanle Bombata alias Bobo Chicago after FBI prosecutors proved him to be a flight risk, capable of absconding even before his trial commences.

In a previous ruling on November 26, Magistrate Court judge Beth Jantz granted bail to Bobo Chicago, but the U.S. government swiftly moved to stay the order and appeal the bail.

FBI prosecutors convinced the court that Bobo Chicago, 25, was a liar who could not be trusted to appear in Oklahoma court for the subsequent hearing of his trial if granted bail.

Prosecutors reminded the court of Bobo Chicago’s criminal history in that he was arrested for unlawful gun possession in 2020. He has $17,000 cash and numerous debit/credit cards and cheques issued in the names of other individuals. The case was still pending in court in Illinois, Chicago.

Earlier in 2024, he tendered a false identification and fled after he got flagged down by law enforcement in traffic.

During a pre-trial interview of his current $2.8 million fraud scheme, he said he had never travelled out of the U.S., but prosecutors deemed the statement a lie.

A government informant, who had previously conspired with Bobo Chicago to scam individuals and companies, told prosecutors that Mr Bombata had travelled to the UK, Ukraine and Germany to facilitate fraudulent activities.

Prosecutors told the court that Bobo Chicago’s dishonesty about his travel history does not inspire confidence that he will avail himself of trial if granted bail.

The FBI further argued that he should be returned to prison because he was going to flee to Nigeria, where both parents are nationals. They said he had been to Nigeria before. The FBI also disclosed that he had travelled to Germany and Colombia in recent years, vital travel information that he failed to disclose during pre-trial interview.

“The government argues that Defendant’s dishonesty regarding travel during the pre-trial services interview does not bode well for his willingness to comply with conditions if released,” stated court filings obtained by Peoples Gazette.

Bobo Chicago’s lawyer defended his client, claiming that the “omission was unintentional.” Still, the government could not dismiss concerns that he lied even when offered the opportunity to come clean.

Although the FBI admitted that Bobo Chicago had surrendered his travel passport, there was still cause to worry, given his criminal history showed that he could easily “obtain false forms of identification” to flee the country and avoid prosecution.

Judge Heil revoked Bobo Chicago’s case, having deemed the FBI’s evidence-based arguments too strong to dismiss. Hence, he ruled that the 25-year-old would languish in prison throughout the duration of his trial.

“Accordingly, defendant will be detained pending trial,” Mr Heil said in his ruling. “It is therefore ordered that the Government’s Appeal of Magistrate Judge’s Order [Dkt. No. 13] is granted and the Order Setting Conditions of Release is reversed.”