The United States Department of Justice has accused the suspended aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Abidemi Rufai, of a ‘fraudulent surety scheme’.
The Acting U.S. Attorney, Tessa Gorma, in documents filed at a United States Courthouse, in Tacoma, Washington, on June 23, said Mr Rufai “knowingly participated in a fraudulent surety scheme to mislead the court”.
The U.S. government said it received a transcript of a recorded call between Mr Rufai and his brother on May 25, four days after a hearing on his detention.
Mr Rufai was desperately looking for a person to stand surety for a $300,000 bail bond earlier granted him by a magistrate’s court.
He could not find a suitable surety before the U.S. government was able to obtain another court order suspending the magistrate’s release order.
“It is evident from the recording that the defence’s presentation of the surety as a friend of Rufai was false, and that, in fact, Rufai does not even know the surety. In the call, Rufai’s brother states that ‘they found a lady to set up the bail’.”
“They discussed the possibility of obtaining another surety. Rufai stated: Whoever you can get, I don’t know, do you understand? No matter how it is, I will pay the money. Do you understand? Just leave that alone. I will pay the money… The money is available. You don’t have to be afraid of that,” part of the new accusation against Mr Rufai read.
The U.S. government said that it is evident from the call that Mr Rufai knowingly participated in the alleged scheme to mislead the court.
Leave a Reply