Toyyibat Qasim
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 $100m tax fraud scheme involving stolen identities and fraudulent tax refund claims.
Raheem was arraigned on Monday before a federal court in the Northern District of Georgia over allegations that he conspired with others to defraud the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) through more than 300 fraudulent tax returns filed between 2018 and 2023.
The charges include conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Raheem allegedly worked with Abayomi Quadri Eletu, who resides in the United Kingdom and Nigeria, and other unidentified co-conspirators to obtain more than $100m in tax refunds using stolen personal information.
The alleged scheme reportedly targeted American taxpayers and tax professionals, whose identities were used to submit fraudulent tax returns and claim refunds from the US government.
Prosecutors alleged that the suspects obtained sensitive personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, by creating online accounts with the IRS and requesting confidential taxpayer records.
The information was allegedly used to file fraudulent returns, with the resulting refunds directed to prepaid debit cards sent to addresses controlled by members of the alleged conspiracy.
US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg described the alleged operation as extensive, saying the suspects reportedly used stolen identities to obtain funds and subsequently channel the proceeds into various purchases.
“Raheem and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained hundreds of stolen identities, filed fraudulent tax returns using that information, and laundered the proceeds through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars that were shipped to Nigeria and other locations,” Hertzberg said.
He said Raheem’s extradition demonstrated the reach of international law enforcement cooperation in investigating alleged financial crimes.
“The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering,” Hertzberg said, adding that the prosecution team had worked with law enforcement partners across different countries to secure Raheem’s return to the United States.
How alleged $100m fraud was carried out
Court allegations indicate that the suspects devised a system to collect and move the proceeds of the fraudulent tax refunds while attempting to conceal the transactions.
After the refunds were allegedly paid into prepaid debit cards, Raheem and Eletu reportedly used some of the proceeds to purchase money orders in amounts designed to remain below applicable reporting thresholds.
Prosecutors further alleged that the money orders were used to acquire used vehicles through online auction platforms, with some of the cars subsequently shipped to Nigeria and other destinations.
The alleged proceeds were also reportedly spent on designer clothing and other items.
Christopher J. Altemus Jr., special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Investigation Texas Field Office, said the alleged operation affected hundreds of taxpayers and deprived the US Treasury of funds.
“Raheem is an alleged co-conspirator in a nationwide identity theft scheme that victimised hundreds of taxpayers. The fraud also stole from the U.S. Treasury, impacting programmes serving us all,” Altemus said.
He added that investigators were working to identify financial crimes, trace illicit proceeds and bring suspects before the courts.
Anthony Colello, special agent in charge of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, said the investigation reflected the US government’s efforts to pursue individuals accused of defrauding American taxpayers.
The US Attorney’s Office said federal agents initially attempted to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026.
During the visit, the agents reportedly communicated through a video doorbell with a man who identified himself as Raheem and claimed he was not at home.
Less than a week later, investigators allegedly learnt that he had booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin.
Raheem arrived in Benin on April 15, 2026, where local authorities arrested him pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Beninese authorities subsequently extradited him to the United States last week.
The US Attorney’s Office described the transfer as only the second extradition from Benin to the United States in history.
Following his arraignment, Raheem was remanded in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further court proceedings.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Georgia indicted him on February 24, 2026.
The indictment contains one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, 14 counts of access device fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.
If convicted, Raheem faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, another maximum of 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. The maximum penalties across the counts amount to 52 years if imposed consecutively, although the actual sentence, if any, would be determined by the court.
Co-accused faces separate proceedings
Eletu was separately indicted in the Western District of Texas on February 17, 2026, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
He was subsequently arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings were said to be pending.
The investigation is being conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with support from American and international law enforcement agencies.
The US Attorney’s Office stressed that the indictment contains allegations and does not establish guilt.
“Defendants are presumed innocent of the charges, and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendants’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial,” the statement said.
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