I regret my involvement in COVID-19 fraud – Abidemi Rufai

Abidemi Rufai

Damilola Ajibola

Abidemi Rufai, a former Senior Special Assistant on Housing to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, said he regretted every bit of his action in involving in COVID-19 fraud in the United States of America.

Rufai, who is currently serving a jail term over $350,000 fraud, said in an exclusive interview with GATEWAY TIMES NIGERIA that he is trying to figure out his present challenges to opportunities.

He said it was unfortunate that he got involved in the fraudulent acts, saying 

“I am not a stranger to challenges, but the major obsession for me is finding ways to turn my challenges to amazing opportunities. This is what I am trying to do in the prison institution.

“I regret every bit of my action for getting involved in the COVID-19 fraud. It was a huge disappointment and I have become remorseful after all. I am hoping to face my rehabilitation process of some educational programmes in the prison here.”

Rufai was reported to have said this while clarifying reports that he received $50,000 each time he brought an investor to the state government and that he was paid $2,000 monthly salary.

In the interview with the online publication which reportedly held between 8.19pm and 8.27pm, Rufai, denied ever dragging the name of the government into the fraud mess. 

He explained, “Yes, I am speaking from a sane mind as I need to make this crucial clarification. 

“I am granting this interview with you from my Transfer Centre in Oklahoma from where I will head to New Jersey, my designated institution in a matter of few days. 

“Please let it be on record that I never granted interview or claimed during my trial that I was bringing investors to Ogun state. My salary as SSA to Gov Abiodun was N300,000 monthly and this you can verify. Again, the issue of being paid $50,000 for bringing investors only existed in the mind of those who are spreading the twisted report.

“But please note once again that the report of bringing investors and getting $50,000 was satanic and false.”