Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun has suspended his Senior Special Assistant, Bidemi Rufai, over allegation of $350,000 internet fraud committed in the United States of America.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary of the governor, Kunle Somorin, he said the suspension of Rufai became imperative in order to allow him answer the charges levelled against him by the US government.
Governor Abiodun’s aide was said to have been arrested by federal agents at the John F. Kennedy International Airport last week Friday.
Somorin said Governor Abiodun does not condole, unlawful acts capable of denting the image of the state, the transparency and probity his administration stand for.
The spokesman said: “We received the very disturbing news of the arrest of one of the governor’s political appointees, Mr. Abidemi Rufai, in New York over alleged unemployment benefits and fraud in the United States this morning.
“While the governor cannot be held responsible for the actions of a full-grown adult, especially outside the jurisdiction of Ogun and Nigeria, he has since suspended the man from office to enable him answer the charges levelled against him.
“The governor wishes to condemn any act capable of undermining his determination to institute an open, transparent, accountable and morally upright behaviour in the state and in governance. Governor Abiodun remains committed to his agenda of ‘Building Our Future Together’ and will not condone criminals either in his government or the state in general.”
Rufai was charged to court on Saturday on the allegation bordering on alleged fraud of $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington state Employment Security Department during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 by using the identities of more than 100 Washington residents.