Suspect in Washington unemployment fraud case is denied bail By Paul Roberts, The Seattle Times
Published: May 20, 2021, 7:41pm
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SEATTLE A federal magistrate in New York ruled Wednesday that a Nigerian citizen charged in last year’s $650 million unemployment fraud in Washington cannot be released before his trial.
Abidemi Rufai, 42, arrested Friday in New York as he prepared to fly to Nigeria, had asked a federal court to release him to the custody of his brother, who is an attorney in New York, according to federal prosecutors and Abidemi Rufai’s private attorney.
Abidemi Rufai had also agreed to electronic home monitoring and certain travel restrictions, said federal prosecutors and Rufai’s attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, N.Y.
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A federal magistrate in New York has rejected the bail application of Abidemi Rufai, an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State.
Mr Rufai is currently enmeshed in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States.
He was arraigned on Wednesday before Magistrate Ramon Reyes.
Mr Rufai’s lawyer, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York, said the suspect’s brother, Alaba Rufai, who is listed in court records told the court Wednesday morning that he could not afford the $300,000 surety bond for his bail
As a result, Mr Reyes ruled that Mr Rufai should remain detention.
Mr Barrows told
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Published 20 May 2021
A federal magistrate in New York ruled on Wednesday that Abidemi Rufai, a Senior Special Assistant to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, charged for $350,000 employment fraud in Washington cannot be released before his trial.
The 42-year-old was arrested on Friday evening on his way back to Nigeria at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York based on criminal complaint.
He was subsequently charged with defrauding Washington State Employment Security Department of over $350,000.
Rufai made his initial appearance last Saturday in New York and he appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, he asked a federal court to release him to the custody of his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is an attorney in New York, according to federal prosecutors and Abidemi Rufai’s private attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York.
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