Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abidemi Rufai, arrested in the United States for alleged involvement in $350,000 unemployment fraud.
Rufai was arrested on Friday by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation at the John F Kennedy International Airport in New York based on criminal complaint.
He was subsequently charged with defrauding Washington State Employment Security Department of over $350,000.
Governor Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, announced Rufai’s suspension, stating that his involvement in fraud is disturbing.
He said this in a statement titled, ‘Gov. Abiodun suspends Rufai, condemns unlawful acts’ on Tuesday.
According to the statement, “The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has received the very disturbing news of the arrest of one of his political appointees, Mr Abidemi Rufai, in New York over alleged unemployment benefits fraud in the United States.
“In view of the gravity of these allegations, the Governor has ordered the immediate suspension of the accused appointee.
“The Governor wishes to restate his commitment to an open, transparent, accountable and morally upright Administration and will not condone any act bordering on criminality by anyone.”