A Nigerian politician has been arrested on charges he fraudulently claiming unemployment benefits in the US by stealing the identities of more than 100 people.
Abidemi Rufai - an aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state - was arrested last Friday and is accused of stealing more than $350,000 (£246,000) in Covid-19 unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department, the US justice ministry said in a statement.
He is scheduled for a detention hearing on Wednesday.
The Ogun state government has not commented on his arrest.
Mr Rufai, 42, allegedly used the stolen identities of more than 100 Washington residents to file fraudulent claims between March and August last year. The US authorities say more than $288,000 was deposited into a bank account controlled by him.
The justice ministry said Mr Rufai used "variations of a single e-mail address in a manner intended to evade automatic detection by fraud systems.
"By using this practice, Rufai made it appear that each claim was connected with a different email account."
He is also accused of filing such claims in Hawaii, Wyoming, Massachusetts, Montana, New York, and Pennsylvania.
He faces up 30 years in prison as the allegations against him are connected with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency, such as the coronavirus pandemic, the statement said.
Mr Rufai has run for political office in the past, seeking a seat in Nigeria's House of Representatives in 2019.
Latest Stories
-
Joy FM listeners criticise Achiase Commanding Officer’s election comment
4 mins -
Legal Aid Commission employees threaten strike over poor working conditions
7 mins -
Ghana ranked 7th globally as biggest beneficiary of World Bank funding
16 mins -
IMF board to disburse $360m to Ghana in December after third review
21 mins -
Former Bono Regional NPP organiser donates 13 motorbikes to 12 constituencies
27 mins -
Securities industry: Assets under management estimated at GH¢81.7bn in quarter 3, 2024
31 mins -
Gold Fields Ghana Foundation challenges graduates to maximise benefits of community apprenticeship programme
2 hours -
GBC accuses Deputy Information Minister Sylvester Tetteh of demolishing its bungalow illegally
2 hours -
Boost for education as government commissions 80 projects
2 hours -
NAPO commissions library to honour Atta-Mills’ memory
3 hours -
OmniBSIC Bank champions health and wellness with thriving community walk
3 hours -
Kora Wearables unveils Neo: The Ultimate Smartwatch for Ghana’s tech-savvy and health-conscious users
3 hours -
NDC supports Dampare’s ‘no guns at polling stations’ directive
3 hours -
Police officer interdicted after video of assault goes viral
3 hours -
KNUST’s Prof. Reginald Annan named first African recipient of World Cancer Research Fund
3 hours