U.S Denies Abidemi Rufai Bail

A federal magistrate in New York ruled on Wednesday that Abidemi Rufai, a former aide to Gov. Dapo Abiodun should not be released on bail.

Abidemi had asked a federal court to release him to the custody of his brother, who is an attorney in New York. According to federal prosecutors and Abidemi Rufai’s private attorney,
Abidemi Rufai had also agreed to electronic home monitoring and certain travel restrictions.

However, Rufai’s brother, Alaba A. Rufai, told the court on Wednesday morning that he could not afford the $300,000 “surety” bond that he would have been required to post to ensure that Abidemi Rufai appeared for his trial.

As a result, Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes ordered Abidemi Rufai detained and taken to the Western District of Washington.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle said; “We’re pleased that the defendant is being detained and will be transported to the Western District of Washington for future court proceedings.”

Although Abidemi Rufai planned to seek “alternative surety” and to ask the court to reopen the detention case, he was unable to do so by the end of the day. Attorney to Abidemi Rufai, Michael Barrows, said “The family is still working on trying to get another friend or relative to serve as the surety.”

You would recall that Rufai is being charged with stealing more than $350,000 last year by filing fraudulent unemployment claims with the Washington state Employment Security Department (ESD) using the identities of more than 100 Washingtonians.

Abidemi Rufai, 42, was arrested on Friday in New York as he prepared to fly to Nigeria.

He would face up to 30 years in prison, if found guilty.