Abidemi Rufai, a senior special assistant to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, is set to be released on bail after getting a surety.
Mr Rufai, who is currently enmeshed in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud in the United States, was denied bail on Wednesday after his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is listed in court records, was unable to place the $300,000 surety bond for his bail.
On Friday, Rufai’s lawyer presented a surety as Federal magistrate judge Ramon Reyes ruled that a New York state resident and family friend of Rufai’s could post the bond.
The court ruled that Rufai would be restricted to travel in New York City and Western Washington and would be monitored with electronic surveillance.
It also said the surety will serve as Rufai’s custodian until his trial in federal court in Tacoma.
Following this, Nekpen Soyemi, a registered nurse, whose family comes from Nigeria, told the court that she would guarantee the $300,000 bond and allow Rufai to stay at her and her husband’s home.
The judge delayed his release until Tuesday to give enough time to federal prosecutors to carry out checks.
Rufai’s lawyer Michael Barrows said the conditions of his bail “were appropriate to secure his future attendance in court.”
The 42-year-old was arrested on May 14 on his way back to Nigeria at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York based on criminal complaint.
He has been suspended by Governor Abiodun.
