US submits 97,000-page evidence against Dapo Abiodun’s aide Abidemi Rufai

Abidemi Rufai Dapo Abiodun aide arrested for fraud

United States’ authorities have submitted a 97,000-page material in court as part of evidence of alleged fraud against Abidemi Rufai, a suspended aide of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Premium Times said it obtained court filings showing the prosecution submitted the evidence at the US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma on July 26.

Both the prosecution and defence have asked the court for the postponement of the August 31 trial date, citing the “voluminous and complex” nature of the evidence presented.

The agreed application was filed on August 3, 2021.

“Further, much of the material may need to be redacted before it can be provided to the defendant,” the document read.

It added that much of the material “contains personal identifying information or sensitive financial information.”

According to the document, the government is in the process of executing two additional electronic search warrants.

Mr Rufai was arrested in New York while trying to leave the US on May 24, 2021.

Prosecutors say he used the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal about $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.