A federal magistrate court in New York has denied Abidemi Rufai, suspended Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State bail for the alleged $350,000 fraud committed in Washington.
Rufai made his first appearance last Saturday in New York and he appeared for a detention hearing on Wednesday May 18, where he appealed to the judge to release him to the custody of his brother, Alaba Rufai, who is an attorney in New York.
His personal attorney, Michael Barrows of Garden City, said Rufai’s brother however told the court he could not afford the $300,000 “surety” bond that he would have been required to post to ensure that Abidemi appeared for his trial.
As a result, Magistrate Judge Ramon Reyes ordered Abidemi Rufai to be detained and taken to the Western District of Washington.
Rufai risks 30 years in prison if found guilty of wire fraud.
