US Extradites Nigerian Man From Benin Over Alleged $100m Tax Fraud

A Nigerian citizen, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from the Republic of Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged tax refund fraud scheme involving more than $100 million.

The 43-year-old was arraigned on Monday in the United States after his extradition, according to the US Department of Justice. He is being held in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

Prosecutors allege that Raheem and his co-conspirators filed more than 300 fraudulent tax returns between 2018 and 2023, seeking over $100 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using stolen identities belonging to American taxpayers and tax professionals.

According to the indictment, the alleged group obtained sensitive personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, by creating online accounts with the IRS and requesting private taxpayer information.

The suspects allegedly used the stolen identities to submit fraudulent returns and redirected correspondence to addresses under their control. They then instructed the IRS to distribute the anticipated refunds through multiple prepaid debit cards.

Investigators further allege that Raheem and his co-conspirators laundered some of the proceeds through money orders and other transactions. They reportedly used some of the money to purchase used vehicles at auctions, with some cars subsequently shipped to Nigeria, alongside designer clothing and other items.

US authorities said Raheem travelled from Mexico City to Benin in April 2026 after federal agents had attempted to arrest him at his residence in Atlanta, Georgia. He was arrested by Beninese authorities on April 15 following an INTERPOL Red Notice.

He was extradited to the United States the previous week, marking the second extradition from Benin to the US, according to the Department of Justice.

Raheem faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access-device fraud and aggravated identity theft. The charges carry potential prison sentences of several decades if he is convicted.

Another alleged participant, Abayomi Quadri Eletu, who is associated with the United Kingdom and Nigeria, was separately indicted and arrested in the UK, where extradition proceedings are pending.

The investigation involves the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, with assistance from international law enforcement agencies.

The US Department of Justice stressed that the indictment contains allegations and that Raheem is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.