A Nigerian man has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged tax refund fraud
A Nigerian man, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged tax refund fraud scheme involving more than $100 million in fraudulent claims.
Raheem, 43, was arraigned on 26 October 2026 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and remanded in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
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According to the US Department of Justice, prosecutors allege that Raheem worked with Abayomi Quadri Eletu and other co-conspirators to file more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023, seeking over $100 million in refunds from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The indictment accuses the group of using stolen identities belonging to American taxpayers and tax professionals to submit fraudulent returns and obtain refunds. The allegations include conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
How the Alleged Tax Refund Scheme Worked
US prosecutors allege that the group obtained personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, by creating online IRS accounts and requesting confidential taxpayer records.
The information was allegedly used to submit false tax returns and direct refunds to prepaid debit cards sent to addresses controlled by members of the group.
Investigators further allege that some proceeds were laundered through money orders purchased in amounts designed to avoid reporting thresholds. The money orders were allegedly used to purchase second-hand vehicles through auction websites, with some vehicles subsequently shipped to Nigeria.
Prosecutors also allege that proceeds from the scheme were used to purchase designer clothing and other items.
The investigation involves the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from international law enforcement agencies.
Extradition Followed International Investigation
The US Department of Justice said investigators attempted to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026 but were unable to take him into custody at the time.
Authorities subsequently learnt that he had booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin. He arrived in Benin on 15 April 2026 and was arrested by local authorities following an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Beninese authorities later extradited him to the United States. The Justice Department described the case as the second extradition from Benin to the US.
A federal grand jury indicted Raheem on 24 February 2026. His alleged co-conspirator, Eletu, was separately indicted in the Western District of Texas on 17 February 2026 and was later arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings remain pending.
Potential Penalties If Convicted
Raheem faces a maximum penalty 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 each access device fraud count. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence.
These are maximum potential penalties, not a prediction of the sentence he would receive if convicted.
The charges remain allegations. Raheem is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
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