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

​ A 43-year-old Nigerian national, Akinade Raheem, has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged $100 million tax fraud and identity theft ring.
​Raheem was arraigned on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia following his extradition and remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
​U.S. prosecutors allege that between 2018 and 2023, Raheem conspired with Abayomi Eletu and others to file over 300 fraudulent tax returns using stolen identities to claim fake Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refunds.
​Stolen Identities and Used Car Money Laundering
​According to U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg, the syndicate created fraudulent online IRS accounts to harvest personal identification details—including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers—belonging to tax professionals and taxpayers.
​The stolen refund checks were loaded onto prepaid debit cards and shipped to addresses controlled by the group. Prosecutors say the proceeds were laundered through:
​Structured Money Orders: Purchasing low-value money orders designed to bypass reporting thresholds.
​Vehicle Exports: Buying used cars at auctions to ship to Nigeria and other foreign locations.
​Luxury Goods: Acquiring designer clothing and other high-end items.
​Video Doorbell Escape and International Manhunt
​Court documents detail how federal agents attempted to arrest Raheem at his residence in April 2026. During the raid, agents spoke to a man through a video doorbell who identified himself as Raheem and claimed he was not at home.
​Days later, federal investigators tracked Raheem on a flight from Mexico City to Benin. Upon his arrival on April 15, 2026, local authorities in Benin arrested him pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice.
​Beninese authorities subsequently finalized his extradition, making it only the second extradition from Benin to the United States in history.
​Severe Penalties and Co-Conspirator Status
​Raheem was indicted on February 24, 2026, on 30 counts, including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering, alongside mandatory consecutive sentences for identity theft.
​His alleged co-conspirator, Abayomi Eletu, who resides between the UK and Nigeria, was indicted in Texas on February 17, 2026. Eletu has been arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings to the U.S. are currently underway.