Dapo Abiodun’s aide, Abidemi Rufai, released from US prison

Abidemi Rufai, an associate of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, has been released from a US federal prison.

Peoples Gazette reports that Rufai, 47, was freed from the Bureau of Prisons’ custody at Fort Dix, New Jersey, on November 15, 2024, according to correctional documents.

He is now preparing for deportation to Nigeria as stipulated in his guilty plea. His Nigerian passport, which had been withheld, was returned to him on October 21, 2024, following his successful motion to reduce his sentence.

In 2022, Mr. Rufai pleaded guilty to charges of tax fraud and aggravated identity theft, waiving his right to contest deportation upon completing his prison term.

He was sentenced to 60 months in prison after prosecutors presented extensive evidence, including 100,000 pages of documents, to a federal court in Tacoma, Washington. The sentence, comprising two counts of fraud, was to run concurrently.

Initially scheduled for release on February 14, 2025, Mr. Rufai was granted early release after a judge approved his motion based on revised sentencing guidelines. The Bureau of Prisons waived the remaining three months of his sentence.

As part of his conviction, Mr. Rufai was ordered to pay $607,000 in restitution to U.S. government agencies across various states. Additionally, a Nigerian court, acting on charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordered the forfeiture of his mansion in Lekki, Lagos, and his bank accounts.

Known by the nickname “Elele Ruffy,” Rufai had a long history of internet fraud operations in Lagos and Ogun before expanding his activities to the United States, where he was eventually apprehended.

He served his sentence at the same facility as notorious Nigerian internet fraudsters Ramon “Hushpuppi” Abbas and Jacob Olalekan Ponle, also known as “Mr.

It remains unclear whether Rufai will resume his role as an aide to Governor Abiodun in Ogun State.

The governor himself faced fraud-related charges in Florida over 30 years ago, although the outcome of his case remains undisclosed.

. Peoples Gazette