A Nigerian man, Akinade Adedeji Raheem, has been extradited from Benin to the United States to face federal charges over an alleged tax refund fraud scheme involving more than $100 million.

Raheem, 43, was arraigned in a federal court in the United States following his extradition and has been remanded in the custody of the US Marshals Service pending further proceedings.

Prosecutors allege that Raheem conspired with Abayomi Quadri Eletu and other accomplices between 2018 and 2023 to obtain fraudulent tax refunds from the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) using stolen identities belonging to accountants and American taxpayers.

According to the indictment, the alleged scheme involved more than 300 fraudulent tax returns seeking over $100 million in refunds.

Investigators said the suspects obtained personal information, including names, addresses and Social Security numbers, by creating online IRS accounts and requesting confidential taxpayer records.

The alleged fraudsters reportedly used the stolen information to submit false tax returns and redirect correspondence from the IRS to addresses under their control. They also allegedly manipulated postal address records to intercept letters intended for legitimate taxpayers.

Prosecutors further alleged that the group directed fraudulent refunds to multiple prepaid debit cards. Some of the proceeds were subsequently laundered through money orders and purchases of goods, including used vehicles acquired through auction platforms.

Some of the vehicles were reportedly shipped to Nigeria, while other proceeds were used to purchase designer clothing and additional items.

Raheem was arrested in Benin on April 15, 2026, following an international alert issued through INTERPOL. His extradition to the United States was secured last week, according to US authorities.

He faces charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.

If convicted, Raheem could face up to 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, another 20 years for money laundering, and up to 10 years for access device fraud. The aggravated identity theft charges carry a mandatory two-year prison sentence.

His alleged co-conspirator, Eletu, who has links to the United Kingdom and Nigeria, was separately indicted and arrested in the UK, where extradition proceedings are pending.

The case is being investigated by the IRS Criminal Investigation division and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

Raheem has not been convicted of the charges, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.