Nigerian Man Extradited to US for Alleged $100 Million Tax Fraud Scheme

A 43-year-old Nigerian named Akinade Adedeji Raheem has been extradited from Benin to the United States. He is facing federal charges related to a scheme that allegedly involved over $100 million in fraudulent tax refund claims using stolen identities.

Raheem was brought before a federal court in the US after his extradition. He has been ordered to remain in custody while the legal process continues, according to the US Department of Justice. Prosecutors claim that Raheem and his accomplices filed more than 300 fake tax returns from 2018 to 2023, attempting to get refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated that the operation involved hundreds of stolen identities, leading to significant financial losses. He explained that Raheem and his co-conspirators allegedly used these stolen identities to file false tax returns and launder the money through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars, which were then shipped to Nigeria and other places.

The indictment also mentions Abayomi Quadri Eletu, who lives in the UK and Nigeria, as a co-conspirator. Eletu was arrested in the UK and is awaiting extradition. Court documents reveal that the suspects obtained personal information from American taxpayers and tax professionals to carry out their fraudulent claims.

Investigators say the scheme involved creating online IRS accounts to access private taxpayer information and directing refunds to prepaid debit cards linked to addresses controlled by the suspects. Some of the proceeds were allegedly laundered by buying money orders in amounts that avoided reporting requirements.

Christopher J. Altemus Jr., a special agent with the IRS Criminal Investigation Texas Field Office, noted that the scheme impacted many taxpayers and stole from the US Treasury, affecting programs that serve the public. He emphasized that authorities are working globally to bring financial criminals to justice.

The Justice Department highlighted that federal agents tried to arrest Raheem in April 2026 but could not find him. They later discovered he had flown from Mexico City to Benin, where he was arrested under an INTERPOL Red Notice. This extradition marks only the second time a suspect has been transferred from Benin to the US.

Raheem is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. If found guilty, he could face significant prison time. The case is being investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, with help from international law enforcement agencies.