A 43-year-old Nigerian man, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face charges over an alleged tax fraud scheme involving more than $100 million in fraudulent tax refund claims.
Raheem was arraigned on Monday before the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia on charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, Raheem allegedly conspired with Abayomi Quadri Eletu and other accomplices to file more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023.
Prosecutors alleged that the group used stolen identities belonging to American taxpayers and tax professionals to claim more than $100 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The suspects allegedly obtained personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, by accessing confidential taxpayer records through online IRS accounts.
Investigators said the group used the stolen information to file fraudulent tax returns and directed the refunds to prepaid debit cards sent to addresses under their control.
Prosecutors further alleged that Raheem and Eletu laundered some of the proceeds by purchasing money orders in amounts intended to remain below reporting thresholds.
The money orders were allegedly used to purchase used vehicles through auction websites, designer clothing and other items. Some of the vehicles were reportedly shipped to Nigeria and other locations.
US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said the alleged scheme was extensive, adding that Raheem’s extradition demonstrated the authorities’ commitment to pursuing suspects accused of financial crimes across international borders.
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According to prosecutors, federal agents attempted to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026 but were unable to locate him.
During the visit, agents reportedly communicated through a video doorbell with a man who identified himself as Raheem and claimed he was not at home.
Less than a week later, investigators discovered that Raheem had booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin.
He arrived in Benin on April 15, 2026, and was arrested by local authorities following an INTERPOL Red Notice.
Beninese authorities subsequently extradited him to the United States last week. The US Attorney’s Office described the transfer as only the second extradition from Benin to the United States in history.
Following his arraignment, Raheem was detained by the US Marshals Service pending further court proceedings.
A federal grand jury indicted him on February 24, 2026, on charges including wire and mail fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, 14 counts of access device fraud and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for wire and mail fraud conspiracy, up to 20 years for money laundering conspiracy and up to 10 years for access device fraud. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence.
Eletu was separately indicted in the Western District of Texas on February 17, 2026. He was later arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings are pending.
The investigation is being conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from other US and international law enforcement agencies.
US authorities emphasised that the indictment contains allegations that have not been proven in court. Raheem is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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