A Nigerian man, Abiola Quadri, has been sentenced to over 11 years in federal prison in the United States for orchestrating a $1.3 million fraud scheme involving stolen identities to claim COVID-19 pandemic unemployment and disability benefits.
The 43-year-old, a permanent resident of Pasadena, California, used the illicit funds to construct a nightclub, shopping mall, and a lavish 120-room resort hotel in Nigeria, authorities revealed.
According to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on its Instagram page on Wednesday, Quadri submitted hundreds of fraudulent applications using stolen identities, siphoning off taxpayer money.
“We’re proud that our special agents’ hard work paid off and Quadri will face justice for his crimes,” ICE declared, highlighting the scale of the operation that raked in $1.3 million.
Details from ICE’s website, dated July 16, 2025, paint a fuller picture of the crime.
The fraudster withdrew the stolen funds from ATMs between 2021 and his arrest in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was en route to Nigeria.
Investigations revealed he sent at least $500,000 abroad, funding the construction of the Oyins International resort in Nigeria, complete with a nightclub, mall, and high-end amenities. Shockingly, Quadri failed to disclose his ownership of the hotel in his court financial disclosures.
Authorities uncovered 17 counterfeit checks worth over $3.3 million on Quadri’s phone, alongside messages negotiating these fraudulent transactions.
Some checks were linked to shell businesses under his aliases. Quadri also exploited his Altadena-based company, Rock of Peace, which was paid to provide daycare for developmentally disabled children in California, misappropriating food-aid debit cards found during a search of his residence.
Quadri was sentenced to 135 months in prison on July 10, 2023, by United States District Judge George H. Wu in Los Angeles.
The judge also ordered him to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine. Quadri, who admitted to acquiring permanent residency through a “fake wedding” via court documents, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud on January 2.
“The United States Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations, and the California Employment Development Department Investigation Division investigated this matter.
“Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Brown of the Major Frauds Section prosecuted this case,” ICE stated
1SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
-
WANTS TO LEAD NIGERIA? TELL US YOUR DIAGNOSIS OF THE COUNTRY
By Idowu Ephraim Faleye +2348132100608 MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The presidential campaign season for the office of President of Nigeria will bring the familiar noise to our streets and airwaves. Aspirants will tell Nigerians why the country is broken and why they alone possess the solution. But serious leadership requires more than angry slogans and a…
-
Nigeria may crash chaotically under Atiku – Babachir Lawal; says he’d rather back Tinubu
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has said he would rather support President Bola Tinubu than former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, arguing that an Atiku presidency could lead to a “chaotic” crash. Lawal made the remarks during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, while explaining his opposition…
-
How subsidy removal funded $500m Lagos airport rebuild — Keyamo
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas The removal of the fuel subsidy has enabled the Federal Government to raise about $500m for the reconstruction of the Lagos airport and other aviation infrastructure, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has said. Keyamo disclosed this on Monday in Lagos while speaking at the 67th anniversary of Aero…
