Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun has suspended his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Abidemi Rufai, following his arrest in the United States.
It was earlier reported that Rufai aka Sandy Tang was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly defrauding the Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) of $350,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. ICYMI
In reaction to the news which was announced by the United States Department of Justice on Monday, May 17, Governor Abiodun has issued a statement which was released by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin.
In the statement, the Governor condemned his aide’s alleged involvement in the fraud and described it as “disturbing”.
The statement in part reads,
“We received the very disturbing news of the arrest of one of the governor’s political appointees, Mr Abidemi Rufai in New York over alleged unemployment benefits and fraud in the United States, this morning.
While the Governor cannot be held responsible for the actions of a full grown adult, especially outside the jurisdiction of Ogun and Nigeria, he has since suspended the suspect from office to enable him answer the charges levelled against him.
The Governor wishes to condemn any act capable of undermining his determination to institute an open, transparent, accountable and morally upright behaviour in the State and in governance.
Gov. Abiodun remains committed to his agenda of building our future together and will not condone criminals either in his government or the state in general.”
