The Court observed that despite a September 2022 judgement demanding the stolen funds be returned to nine states and three departments as restitution, the sum of over $604,000 was yet to be paid.
The observation led the U.S. government to file an Application for a Writ of Continuing Garnishment against Mr Rufai and the bank where the funds were being held.
The proposed judgement stated, "It is hereby ORDERED that the Clerk of the Court shall issue a Writ of Continuing Garnishment against T.D. Bank, N.A., whose address is T.D. Bank, N.A., Attn: Legal Department, 1701 Route 70 East, East, 1st Floor, Mailstop NJ5-011-103, Cherry Hill, NJ,08003.”
Some of the departments to be paid restitution by Mr Rufai include the Washington Employment Security Department ($350,763), Arkansas Division of Workforce Services ($10,166), Maine Department of Labor ($8,205), Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency ($44,216), among others.
Mr Rufai, a convicted serial fraudster, was a close associate of Ogun state governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was implicated by a U.S.-based Washington Post report as a major financier of Mr Rufai’s extravagant lifestyle.
The publication reported that Mr Abiodun paid Mr Rufai $2,000 as official salary for being his senior special assistant and a $50,000 cut meant for “introducing people” to him.
However, Mr Abiodun, through his press secretary, Kunle Somorin, debunked the report and said, “The governor had no deal with Rufai on any transaction.”