Extradited Nigerian Citizen Arraigned in U.S. on Fraud Charges

Akinade Adedeji Raheem, a Nigerian citizen, has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges related to an alleged $100 million tax fraud scheme. Raheem, 43, was arraigned on charges of fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Raheem and his co-conspirators are accused of filing fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities to claim over $100 million in refunds from the IRS. The scheme allegedly involved more than 300 false tax returns and the use of sensitive identifying information obtained by creating online accounts with the IRS.

Allegations of a Complex Fraud Scheme

The indictment alleges that Raheem, along with Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, conspired to obtain hundreds of stolen identities. They allegedly directed the IRS to split refunds among prepaid debit cards, which were then used to launder the proceeds through purchases of money orders, used cars, and other items. Some of the cars were reportedly shipped to Nigeria.

The fraudulent activities are said to have taken place between 2018 and 2023, with Raheem residing in Atlanta during this period. The U.S. Attorney's Office highlighted the global efforts involved in bringing Raheem to justice, with his arrest in Benin being facilitated by an INTERPOL Red Notice.

Legal Proceedings and Extradition

Raheem was sought for arrest in April 2026 but managed to evade capture initially. He was later arrested in Benin on April 15, 2026, after flying from Mexico City. His extradition marks only the second time Benin has extradited an individual to the United States.

Raheem faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, 20 years for money laundering, and 10 years for access device fraud, in addition to a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.

Eletu, who was indicted in the Western District of Texas on February 17, 2026, was arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings are currently pending.

The case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Raheem and Eletu are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.