Precious thread: https://www.nairaland.com/6558713/abidemi-rufai-arrested-new-york

POLITICSNIGERIA.COM

Following allegations by the United States Department of Justice that the surety provided by Mr. Abidemi Rufai is a suspected fraudster, the court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, on Wednesday, gave an order that Mr Rufai should remain in detention.

He is accused of being involved in $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States. He was supposed to he released on Wednesday but the court granted a motion by the US government for "a stay of the release order."

The order was granted by U.S. District Judge, Benjamin Settle.

"The release order is STAYED, and the defendant shall remain in custody pending this Court’s decision on the government’s motion for review," Mr Settle was quoted to have said. POLITICS NIGERIA reported that Mr Rufai was arrested at the airport on May 14 when he was try to sneak out of the country to Amsterdam.

The U.S. said he used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Although his lawyer, Michael Barrows, said Mr Rufai denied “involvement in these transactions" but Governor Abiodun has suspended him.

Mr Rufai's first appearance in court was last week Wednesday.

He was denied bail because his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is listed in court records, could not post the $300,000 surety bond for his bail. He got a nurse, Nekpen Soyemi, to stand in for him as surety but the U.S. government said Ms Soyemi is a suspected fraudster and could not be allowed to stand surety for Mr Rufai.

https://politicsnigeria.com/350000-fraud-court-orders-indefinite-detention-of-dapo-abioduns-aide-abidemi-rufai/

traihit:
He's simply greedy and should be properly jailed. Anybody trying to defend him should be jailed too.

GBAMSOLUTELY!!

USA is not Nigeria where every crime by highly placed individuals are swept under the carpet.
He stole money from their country and still returned to the same country to ball hard.
He should simply say hi to HushBingo and Obi Invi whatever in cell.
Modafokas everywhere, bringing our darling nation to disrepute and making things difficult for legit and genuine Nigerians working legitimately abroad.

#TeamLegitForLife

This one wee turn landlord inside prison.

Thought it is Hell Rufai..

The judge name is "Settle" he cannot be settled..

This kind of posts makes me laugh at the stupidity of all resident tribal warriors on Nairaland. We are all Nigerians and we are all corrupt criminals. No one us exempted. It's just turn by turn and circumstances will reveal the COMMON spirit we have within. Lugard saw something no one else saw, though tribe and tongue may differ in evil we stand

Ok

Everyone knew the US government wouldn't want to release him on bail. Saying the presented surety is suspected fraudster does not seems to jell. If she's a fraudster, prosecute her alongside the accused.

In all, crime does not pay. You do the crime, be prepared to do the time.

H

Baba go run street, chai

Disgracing Nigeria...learnt he was an SSA to a governor in SW

Political scammee

The end for all fraudsters is tears

Y including ogun state governor pictured

Scammers everywhere

Criminal

This one cup don full .
It's not Nigeria, you can't get away with this.

This guy must be Igbo!

Say hi to husppupi over there.. Bro

You nor dey do giveaway i for help you contact baba on your behalf make we vanish you come 9ja

..

Do the crime and do the time.

If its naija, dem for don turn the case upside down

I came here thinking he is a relative of Gov. Elrufai