Nigerian man charged in unemployment scam to remain in jail

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge ruled Friday that the Nigerian government official arrested in connection with Washington state’s $650 million unemployment fraud will remain in jail until his trial. The Seattle Times reports U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle of Tacoma agreed with federal prosecutors that Abidemi Rufai is a flight risk. He reversed a previous order granting him pretrial release. The ruling came two days after another Nigerian citizen was charged with a role in the fraud. Federal law enforcement officials say Rufai, of Lekki, Nigeria, was arrested May 14 at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport as he prepared to fly to Nigeria. A lawyer for Rufai has said his client “denies any involvement in these transactions.”