By George Omagbemi
A Nigerian citizen, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been arraigned in the United States over an alleged tax refund fraud scheme involving more than $100 million in claims submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
According to the US Department of Justice, Raheem, 43, appeared in court on Monday following his extradition from Benin Republic to face federal charges relating to fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.
Prosecutors allege that Raheem conspired with Abayomi Quadri Eletu and others between 2018 and 2023 to submit more than 300 fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities belonging to American taxpayers and tax professionals.
Investigators said the alleged scheme involved obtaining names, addresses and Social Security numbers through online IRS accounts, changing victims’ mailing addresses and redirecting correspondence to addresses controlled by the suspects.
The fraudulent returns allegedly sought more than $100 million in tax refunds. According to prosecutors, the anticipated refunds were directed to prepaid debit cards, while some proceeds were allegedly laundered through money orders used to purchase second-hand vehicles and designer goods.
Authorities said some of the vehicles purchased through the alleged scheme were shipped to Nigeria and other destinations.
Raheem was reportedly arrested in Benin on April 15, 2026, following an international alert and was subsequently extradited to the United States. He has been detained in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further court proceedings.
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 could face substantial prison sentences, including a mandatory two-year sentence for each aggravated identity theft conviction, subject to applicable law and sentencing rules.
A second defendant, Eletu, was separately indicted in February 2026, and extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom were reported to be ongoing.
The US Department of Justice stressed that the charges remain allegations and that Raheem is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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