Governor Abiodun was paying fraudster Bidemi Rufai $50,000 per transaction in Ogun: U.S. Court
Governor Dapo Abidoun of Ogun was paying convicted fraudster Bidemi Rufai “$50,000” per deal as a state appointee, U.S. court documents have revealed.
Prior to his arrest and conviction in the United States, Mr Rufai was in August 2020 appointed senior special assistant on special duties by governor Abiodun.
In May 2021, Mr Rufai was apprehended by U.S. security officials at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport while returning to Nigeria.
Court documents listed that on May 26, 2021, he was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, nine counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity theft.
A Washington Post report states that Mr Abiodun was paying Mr Rufai $2,000 as his official salary as well as the $50,000 cut meant for “introducing people” to him.
The U.S.-based media outlet quoted Mr Rufai’s lawyers telling the federal court.
Both pays were much higher than the average Nigerian earnings in a government circle.
Mr Abiodun has gained a reputation in Ogun state as an astute transactional governor while he’s also profoundly referred to as “Mr ten percent” by those within his administration.
A nickname he got as a result of his renowned fixed rate of charging an extra ten percent on land sales from multinational companies hoping to establish factories in Ogun state.
Peoples Gazette reached out to Kunle Somorin, the Chief Press Secretary to Mr Abiodun, for comments, he, however, refused to respond.
The Gazette had reported how Mr Rufai appeared before a federal court a day after his arrest on charges alleging he used the identities of over 100 U.S. residents to fraudulently receive more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
Mr Rufai, a serial fraudster, was sentenced in September to five years imprisonment for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft by the U.S. district court in Western Tacoma, Washington.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of $604,260, proceeds of wire fraud from Mr Rufai.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Merging Civil Defence with police will worsen Nigeria’s insecurity, FG warned
“It is obvious that persons seeking the merger are ignorant of the roles of NSCDC as a special purpose security vehicle,” a security expert said.
Africa
South Africa’s systemic corruption closely related to ex-President Jacob Zuma’s administration: Report
The report alleged that “high-level political interference has undermined the country’s National Prosecuting Authority from responding to corruption.
Africa
Police corruption big problem in Kenya; security force compromised under President Ruto: U.S. Govt
Not only did the government try to cover up police-related killings, but Kenyan authorities asked medical personnel to keep silent on deaths recorded from police brutality.
NationWide
No one should die of malaria in Africa: WHO
“No one should die from malaria in Africa; indeed, every single malaria death is a death too many because malaria is preventable and treatable,” said WHO.
World
Pilot whales stranded in Western Australia
Pilot whales form extremely close bonds with each other. At certain times of the year, they travel in large pods, which increases the risk of mass stranding.
States
AA slates April 27 for Ondo governorship primary
James Vernimbe, the AA national secretary, announced this in a statement on Thursday.
