The legal counsel to the suspended aide of Ogun state governor, Abidemi Rufai, has has denied his client’s “involvement in these transactions.” (in a $350,000 COVID-19 unemployment fraud.)

Recall that officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),  on Friday arrested Rufai, at JFK Airport in New York while he was  trying to fly first class to Nigeria by way of Amsterdam, according to federal law enforcement officials.

He nabbed on a criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud of over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Professional football player arrested for involvement in $24 million scam

Rufai’s lawyer, Michael Barrows of Garden City, New York,  asked the court to grant him bail and that if granted bail, he (Rufai) “doesn’t represent a flight risk, in part because he has given up his passport.”

The lawyer argued that his client could be “prevented from fleeing through less restrictive means than having him remain in jail, including travel restrictions and electronic surveillance.”

Mr Barrows said those with more grievous allegations are released on self-recognisance.

“You have white-collar criminals [such as] insider traders who steal millions of dollars who are released on their own recognizance,” Mr Rufai’s lawyer was quoted as saying.