The United States authorities have auctioned a Cartier watch and a gold chain necklace belonging to Mr. Abidemi Rufai, a former aide to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who recently completed a jail term in the US.
The auction aimed to offset his judgment debt to the United States government.
Rufai was sentenced on September 26, 2022, by the United States District Court for Western Tacoma, Washington, after pleading guilty to fraud. Using stolen identities, Rufai attempted to steal nearly $2.4 million, including approximately $500,000 in pandemic-related unemployment benefits. He succeeded in defrauding 12 American agencies of $600,000, which was channeled into bank accounts under his control.
As part of his plea agreement, Rufai agreed to pay restitution of $604,260 to the defrauded agencies. To recover funds, U.S. authorities sold the luxury items confiscated during his arrest in December 2022.
“The Judgment entered in this case directed the United States to sell in a commercially reasonable manner a Cartier watch and a gold chain necklace that it seized from Defendant Abidemi Rufai during his arrest and apply the net proceeds to Defendant’s $604,460 judgment debt,” Nicholas Brown, a U.S. Attorney, said in a court filing.
The United States sold the watch and necklace via online auction through Gaston & Sheehan Auctioneers, Appraisers, and Realty. The winning bids for the watch and necklace were $4,720.00 and $3,160.00, respectively. After deducting shipping expenses and sales commission, the net proceeds were $7,086.69.
As instructed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gaston & Sheehan sent the net proceeds to the Clerk of this Court via cheque. The Clerk received and processed the payment on December 20, 2022, applying $200.00 to Defendant’s special assessment and $6,886.69 to his restitution balance.
After deducting that sum from his restitution payment, Abidemi Rufai remains indebted to the U.S. government for $597,573.31. The former Ogun State official was released from prison in mid-November 2024, but his whereabouts remain unknown. He will most likely be deported to Nigeria.
