Gov Abiodun’s Former Aide Abidemi Rufai Set For Deportation After US Prison Release

Gov Abiodun’s Former Aide Abidemi Rufai Set For Deportation After US Prison Release

Abidemi Rufai, a former aide to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, has been released from a U.S. prison after serving his sentence. According to correctional records, the 47-year-old was released from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility in Fort Dix,…CONTINUE READING…

New Jersey, on November 15, 2024.

Having completed his sentence, Rufai is now preparing for deportation to Nigeria as part of his plea agreement. His Nigerian passport was returned to him in October 2024 after he filed for a reduced sentence.

Rufai had pleaded guilty in 2022 to charges of tax fraud and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison, with terms running concurrently, after overwhelming evidence—including 100,000 pages of documentation—led to his conviction. He was initially set to be released in February 2025, but after a judge approved his motion for early release under revised sentencing guidelines, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons waived the remaining three months.

As part of his conviction, Rufai was ordered to pay $607,000 in restitution to U.S. government agencies and is facing further legal action in Nigeria. The EFCC has already secured court orders to seize his assets, including his Lekki mansion and to freeze his bank accounts.

Rufai, also known as “Elele Ruffy,” was notorious for running internet fraud schemes across Lagos and Ogun States before expanding his operations to the U.S., where he was ultimately apprehended. He served his sentence alongside convicted cybercriminals Ramon Abbas, aka “Hushpuppi,” and Jacob Ponle, aka “Mr. Woodberry.”