Tuesday, 18 2021: Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Tuesday suspended his aide, Abidemi Rufai, who was arrested in the United States for an alleged $350,000 (about N140 million) COVID-19 unemployment fraud.

The governor’s chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin, confirmed the suspension to CEOAFRICA.

“Our position is that the law should take its course,” Mr Somorin said in a Whatsapp interview.

“Meanwhile, the governor has ordered his immediate suspension from office to answer charges against him.”

Sources within the government hinted this newspaper that the governor took the action immediately he was briefed about Mr Rufai’s arrest.

CEOAFRICA had earlier reported that Mr Rufai, Senior Special Assistant to Mr Abiodun, was arrested last Friday, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York before boarding a flight to Amsterdam.

He is scheduled for a detention hearing Wednesday.

The money wired is said to be unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department.

This newspaper understands that wire fraud, according to the United States Department of Justice, is punishable by up to 30 years in prison when it relates to benefits paid in connection with a presidentially-declared disaster or emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.