$100m tax fraud: US arraigns Nigerian extradited from Benin Republic

Akinade Adedeji Raheem, a Nigerian man extradited from Benin Republic, has been arraigned in the United States over a $100 million stolen identity tax fraud scheme.

Raheem, 43, was arraigned on Monday, October 26, on federal fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft charges in Atlanta, according to a Tuesday statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Georgia.

Raheem, who allegedly conspired to file fraudulent tax returns seeking over $100 million in refunds using stolen identities, was extradited last week from Benin. His extradition was the second extradition to the US from Benin in history.

U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said, “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.”

Between 2018 and 2023, Raheem, who resided in Atlanta, and Abayomi Quadri Eletu, a resident of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, allegedly conspired to file more than 300 false tax returns claiming over $100 million in refunds from the IRS.

Prosecutors said they obtained sensitive identifying information for tax professionals and taxpayers, including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, by creating online accounts with the IRS and requesting private taxpayer information.

They allegedly directed the IRS to split the refunds among prepaid debit cards shipped to addresses controlled by co-conspirators, then laundered funds by purchasing money orders in amounts low enough to avoid reporting thresholds and used them to buy used cars from auction sites shipped to Nigeria, as well as designer clothing.

Raheem fled after federal agents tried to arrest him in April 2026 at his residence. He told agents via video doorbell he was not home, then booked a flight from Mexico City to Benin. On April 15, 2026, he was arrested in Benin pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice.

A federal grand jury indicted Raheem on February 24, 2026, on one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, 14 counts of access device fraud, and 14 counts of aggravated identity theft.

He faces up to 20 years for conspiracy, 20 years for money laundering, 10 years for access device fraud, and a mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft.

His co-conspirator, Eletu, was indicted February 17, 2026, in the Western District of Texas, arrested in the United Kingdom, where extradition proceedings are pending.

The case is being investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA).

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