EXCLUSIVE: U.S Justice Department lists six reasons why Abidemi Rufai should be kept in detention as he appears in court today
A court document from the United States Department of Justice exclusively obtained by Neusroom has revealed the six arguments the government of the state of Washington is presenting against the request for the release of Abidemi Rufai, as he appears in court for a detention hearing today.
The Nigerian politician was arrested in the U.S for wire fraud on Friday, May 14, 2021, and will appear before the Eastern District of New York court today (Wednesday, May 19) for his detention hearing. He was arrested at the JFK Airport in New York on Friday May 14, 2021, while trying to board a flight to Nigeria. He’s being accused of defrauding the Washington State Employment Security Department of over $350,000 under the alias Sandy Tang.
Rufai, 42, who until his arrest was a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, was suspended from his political office on Tuesday after the government described reports of his arrest as ‘disturbing’.
Neusroom also revealed that he is a realtor and CEO of a sports betting company Ecobet which is now inactive.
Court papers filed on Tuesday by prosecutors with the U.S Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington were sent to Neusroom late on Tuesday evening by the Attorney’s Office.
The prosecutors urged Ramon Reyes, a Magistrate Judge for Eastern District of New York who will be presiding over the detention hearing, to keep Rufai in custody until his trial in a federal court in Washington because he presents an extreme risk to flight and could use his strong political ties in Nigeria to flee from the U.S.
Here are six reasons why the prosecutors want Rufai kept in detention:
- Rufai’s History and Characteristics
The prosecutors argued that Rufai’s history and characteristics weigh heavily in favour of detention, particularly his extensive ties to Nigeria as a government appointee and where his wife, two children, 15 siblings, and parents all live except one brother who lives in New York.
- No Known Address In The U.S
Prosecutors say releasing Rufai is a risk because he has no known contacts to the Western District of Washington where he allegedly stole the identities of its residents to rob the state of $350,000.
- He Is Rich Enough To Fund His Escape From U.S
Rufai has substantial financial resources that will enable his flight if granted bail, prosecutors argued. Although he claimed he has only $16,000 in his account in Nigeria and the U.S, the DoJ believes the claim is dubious and untrue considering the amount ($288,825) a single U.S. bank account in Rufai’s name received in deposits during the period of the fraud.
“Rufai made the dubious representation to Pretrial Services that his total assets consist of $6,000 in the United States and $10,000 in a Nigerian bank account. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was preparing to board a first-class flight to Nigeria with five debit cards and two credit cards in his wallet, a luxury Cartier watch, seven pieces of luggage, and three smartphones on his person,” prosecutors said.
- His Strong Political Ties Will Make Extradition Difficult If He Flees To Nigeria
If Rufai succeeds in fleeing the U.S, prosecutors say he likely will be gone forever because “it is well known that extradition from Nigeria to the United States is difficult under the best of circumstances. That will be exacerbated in this case because of the strong political connections that earned Rufai a governmental appointment.”
- The Offense And The Weight Of Evidence Against Rufai
Rufai is accused of being a significant participant in what may have been the largest fraud ever against the Washington state government. Over $650 million were reportedly stolen by fraudsters who claimed unemployment benefits.
The nature of the offenses charged and the weight of evidence against Rufai also weigh in favour of detention.
- The Fraud Relates To A Presidentially-declared National Emergency
Prosecutors want Rufai kept in detention till the commencement of his trial because the fraud he is being accused of relates to a presidentially-declared national emergency and a presidentially-declared major disaster for Washington, and “each of the five counts carries a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, a statutory sentencing enhancement of 10 years.”
Given the length of imprisonment he faces, prosecutors say he could flee to Nigeria, and “The cash bond and surrender of travel documents are wholly inadequate… Rufai could use his resources to purchase a fraudulent passport, or even slip over the border without one.”
Rufai’s attorney Michael Barrows, a divorce and family law lawyer, is yet to respond to an email by Neusroom seeking comments on his client.
