US Extradites Nigerian Man Over Alleged $100m Tax Fraud Scheme
A 43-year-old Nigerian, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from the Republic of Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged tax-refund fraud scheme involving more than $100 million.
Raheem was arraigned in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, October 26, following his extradition the previous week, according to a statement issued by the United States Department of Justice on Tuesday.
He faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
US prosecutors allege that Raheem and his co-conspirators filed more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023, seeking over $100 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the US tax collection agency.
The indictment alleges that the group obtained personal information belonging to American taxpayers and tax professionals, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, to pursue the fraudulent refunds.
According to the prosecution’s account, the suspects created online accounts with the IRS to obtain private taxpayer information and used the stolen identities to submit fraudulent tax returns.
They allegedly directed the anticipated refunds to multiple prepaid debit cards controlled by members of the group.
How prosecutors say the money was laundered
The US Department of Justice said Raheem and his alleged co-conspirators used prepaid debit cards to receive the refunds before moving some of the proceeds through other transactions.
Prosecutors allege that Raheem and his co-defendant, Abayomi Quadri Eletu, purchased money orders in amounts designed to avoid reporting thresholds.
The money orders were allegedly used to purchase used vehicles through auction platforms, some of which were shipped to Nigeria, as well as designer clothing and other items.
The alleged activities formed part of an investigation into a scheme involving stolen identities and fraudulent claims against the US Treasury.
Authorities have not established through a conviction that Raheem committed the alleged offences.
Arrest in Benin preceded extradition
According to the US Justice Department, American law enforcement agents attempted to arrest Raheem at his residence in Atlanta in April 2026.
During the visit, agents spoke to a man through a video doorbell who identified himself as Raheem but said he was not at home.
Investigators subsequently learnt that he had booked a flight from Mexico City to the Republic of Benin.
Raheem arrived in Benin on April 15, 2026, and was arrested by local authorities pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice, the department said.
Beninese authorities later extradited him to the United States to face the charges.
The US Attorney’s Office described the extradition as only the second transfer of a suspect from Benin to the United States in history.
Following his arraignment, Raheem was ordered detained in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
Co-defendant faces separate proceedings
Raheem’s alleged co-conspirator, Eletu, who is described as a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, was separately indicted in the Western District of Texas on February 17, 2026.
The US Justice Department said Eletu was subsequently arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings remained pending as of the department’s October 27 statement.
The investigation is being conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from other US and international law enforcement agencies.
Charges carry substantial potential penalties
The indictment against Raheem was returned by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia on February 24, 2026.
He faces one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, 14 counts of access device fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit money laundering and up to 10 years for access device fraud.
The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence under the applicable law.
The potential penalties are statutory maximums, not a prediction of the sentence Raheem would receive if convicted.
The US Justice Department emphasised that the indictment contains allegations and that the government must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Raheem remains presumed innocent as the case proceeds.
