Oladapo Fadugba, a Nigerian-born United States citizen, risks 27 years imprisonment over his alleged involvement in a $690,000 wire fraud scheme and making false declarations to obtain US citizenship.

This was contained in a statement by the US Attorney for the District of Florida, Gregory Kehoe, on Tuesday.

Kehoe said Fadugba was indicted for multiple charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements during his naturalisation process.

He noted that between October 2020 and July 2023, the suspect allegedly diverted $690,000 in funds belonging to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, which was meant for reimbursement to a major local healthcare provider.

It was also alleged that Fadugba used another person’s identity to facilitate the transfers into different bank accounts under his control.

The statement read in part, “According to the indictment, beginning on October 30, 2020, and ending no later than July 11, 2023, Fadugba had more than $690,000 of Department of Veterans Affairs funds, intended for reimbursement to a large local healthcare provider, transferred to his personal bank accounts.

“Fadugba then wrote cheques to himself or to businesses associated with him, which were subsequently transferred to other bank accounts under his control. It is alleged that he used the identification of another individual to carry out these transfers.

“The indictment further alleges that Fadugba, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria, made a false statement under oath during his naturalization proceeding. Fadugba allegedly falsely stated he had not committed any crime or offense for which he had not been arrested.

“An indictment is merely a formal charge that the defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty.”

Jude Okoye, elder brother and former manager to the iconic P-square duo has finally regained his freedom after spending over two months behind bars.
The celebration of his release didn’t come quietly, especially from Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, who took to Instagram with a fiery post.

“Jude is finally out after 2months + .. all their efforts to frustrate his bail has finally collapsed. Welcome home brother @judeengees. And happy birthday,”
Paul wrote in his Instagram story.

His words appeared to be more than just a welcome note, they carried an undertone of resentment, likely directed at his twin brother, Peter Okoye.

Flight operations in Nigerian airports are likely to be disrupted as workers of the Nigeria Meteorology Agency, NiMet, embark on an indefinite nationwide strike on Wednesday.

This comes as workers unions, including the Union of Air Transport Employees, the Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical, and Recreational Services Employees, accused NiMet management of failing to honour agreements aimed at resolving prolonged remuneration issues.

The workers vehemently slammed NiMet management’s failure to implement a partial agreement reached on January 28, 2025.

“You are equally aware that the agreement between the management and our unions since 28th January 2025 towards partial amelioration of the above-stated condition has been honoured largely only in the breach.

“As a requirement, all flight operations need to get NiMet clearance for favourable weather before taking off from the airports.

“As you are all aware, our unions have strived strenuously over the past few years to alleviate the exceedingly unjust remunerations conundrum that has visited extreme poverty and consequent untold hardship on NiMet workers. These efforts have been largely without substantial results,” the letter added.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, Michael Achimugu, and Tunde Moshood, the spokesperson of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, have yet to react to the development as of the time of filing this report.

However, speaking on the development, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Ado Sanusi, emphasised that it was the standard operational procedure for airlines to get weather reports for aircraft to either land or take off. He, however, could not confirm if there would be flight operations on Wednesday or not.

“It is a standard operational procedure that if there is no weather report, there is no way an aircraft can either land at an airport or take off, but I cannot confirm if there will be flight operations tomorrow or not; I can not answer that question”, he stated.

Air transport passengers at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and Murtala Muhammed Airport are already jittery about what their fate will be in the coming days.

“My flight is billed for tomorrow (Wednesday); the government intervene to avert a likely disruption,” Ireti Idowu stated.

Another passenger, Isaiah Manuel, billed for a trip from Abuja to Lagos State, also expressed fears of a possible disruption to the flight.