Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has on Tuesday suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abidemi Rufai.
The suspension is sequel to his arrest in the United States for alleged involvement in $350,000 unemployment fraud.
Read Also: Gov Dapo Abiodun’s Aide, Abidemi Rufai Arrested Over $350m COVID-19 Unemployment Fraud In US
MDB earlier reported US Department of Justice in a statement, Rufai, whom FBI agents recognised from social media accounts and images from U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York while they said he was trying to leave the country last week Friday.
Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa M. Gorman accused Rufai of using an alias, Sandy Tang, to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD).
The politician, the DoJ said, stole the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to file fraudulent claims with ESD for pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
Investigators said Rufai, who was appointed by Ogun state governor in August 2020, used small variations in email addresses in a Gmail account, which made it appear like he was multiple people, to slip through fraud detection at ESD.
The aide’s suspension was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kunle Somorin, adding that his involvement in fraud is disturbing.
He said;
The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has received the very disturbing news of the arrest of one of his political appointees, Mr Abidemi Rufai, in New York over alleged unemployment benefits fraud in the United States.
In view of the gravity of these allegations, the Governor has ordered the immediate suspension of the accused appointee.
The Governor wishes to restate his commitment to an open, transparent, accountable and morally upright Administration and will not condone any act bordering on criminality by anyone.
Rufai made his initial appearance last Saturday in New York and he scheduled for a detention hearing on Wednesday, May 19.
If found guilty, Rufai may spend up to thirty years in prison as the fraud relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially declared disaster or emergency.
They should jail him already to serve as a deterrent to others that have been waiting for him to cut soap and share. Also key to mention how careless and incompetent the state governor is to have appointment an individual with questionable character without a thorough delve into his dealings, historical background and profile. How hard is it really to dig up information about any individual? But then, I am not surprised as they are all incompetent birds of the same flock.