How Abidemi Rufai Got into Trouble

Until last week, Abidemi Rufai Mayodele, an aide of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, was seen as a good man with a heart of gold.

This is because he was fond of donating money and food items to his constituents. He is flamboyant, a top-flight socialite and man-about-town quite popular among musicians. He has houses in choice areas in Ijebu-Ode as well as Lekki. He drives expensive cars and well-connected on account of his relationship with Governor Abiodun and other power brokers Ogun and neighbouring states.

But as they say, ‘greed is a powerful motivator.’ The dude was not content with enough wealth he had acquired. He got pushed by greed and found himself in an unenviable situation.
His fans were shocked beyond words when news broke Monday that Mayodele, owner of Ecobet, a popular sports betting company, had been arrested at the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on his way out of the United States.

The acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman accused him of using an alias, Sandy Tang, to steal over $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department. If found guilty, he will spend 30 years in prison.

He is a member of Egbe Bobamayegun of Ijebu Ode, a popular social-cultural group among the Ijebu Ode people. He once aspired to represent the Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/ Ijebu North-East Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress.
Meanwhile, the man has been left to bear the consequences of his acquisitiveness as his boss, Governor Abiodun, ordered his immediate suspension from office to answer charges against him.