A United States Courthouse in Tacoma, Washington will on June 8, 2021, open its doors for the arraignment of Abidemi Rufai, an aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, on fraud charges.
Mr Rufai will appear before Magistrate Theresa Fricke, according to Premium Times.
This follows his indictment for conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his scheme to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department.
The online newspaper said that in a letter it saw on Monday the acting attorney Tessa Gorman informed the suspect’s lawyers, Lance Hester and Michael Barrows, that Rufai would be arraigned by 9:00 a.m. on June 8, 2021.
“It will be necessary that you and your client be present at the time and place indicated above, or via video or teleconference as directed by the Court. The indictment and other documents related to this case are available on the Court’s Electronic Docketing System,” the letter partly read.
Rufai, alias Sandy Tang, now suspended by Ogun governor was arrested May 14, 2021 at JFK Airport in New York as he attempted to depart the US for Nigeria.
Federal prosecutors in the United States had indicated the 42-year-old also sought to defraud the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $1.6 million. But it has not been added to the charges.
Rufai faces nine counts of wire fraud and five counts of aggravated identity ratified by a grand jury.
