Nigerian Man Arraigned in US Over Alleged $100 Million Tax Fraud Scheme

Akinade Adedeji Raheem, a 43-year-old Nigerian citizen, was arraigned in a federal court in Atlanta after his extradition from Benin. He faces charges of fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors say Raheem and others filed more than 300 false tax returns between 2018 and 2023. They sought over $100 million in refunds from the US Internal Revenue Service using stolen personal details of taxpayers and tax professionals.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the group obtained names, addresses and Social Security numbers by creating online IRS accounts. They then directed refunds to prepaid debit cards. Proceeds were allegedly laundered through money orders and the purchase of used cars later shipped to Nigeria and other places.

“Raheem and his co-conspirators allegedly obtained hundreds of stolen identities, filed fraudulent tax returns using that information, and laundered the proceeds through prepaid debit cards and purchases of used cars that were shipped to Nigeria and other locations,” said US Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering.”

Raheem lived in Atlanta during much of the period. He fled and was arrested in Benin in April 2026 under an INTERPOL Red Notice. Beninese authorities extradited him last week. Officials described it as only the second extradition from Benin to the United States.

He was ordered detained by the US Marshals Service pending further court proceedings. A co-conspirator, Abayomi Quadri Eletu, remains in custody in the United Kingdom awaiting possible extradition.

The case highlights ongoing efforts by US authorities to pursue large-scale identity and tax fraud across borders.