The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reached out to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for assistance in apprehending two Nigerian fugitives wanted for healthcare fraud in the United States.
Babatunde Shodiya and Yinka Jamiu were indicted by a grand jury at the U.S. District Court of Minnesota on September 25, in connection with a scheme that allegedly cost healthcare providers $13 million between October 2020 and 2024.
According to an EFCC agent who spoke to Peoples Gazette on condition of anonymity, U.S. officials indicated that the suspects are currently hiding in Nigeria. “We have an obligation to honor the request of our U.S. counterparts as part of our longstanding collaboration to combat cross-border crimes,” the agent stated.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger revealed that Shodiya and Jamiu allegedly manipulated payment transfers on Optum Pay, a widely used payment system among healthcare providers in Minnesota, by using falsified websites and email addresses, presenting themselves as representatives of Fairview Health.
The fraud team reportedly sent emails to Fairview Health staff, tricking them into providing their login information. They created a counterfeit website, fairviewhospitals.org, and impersonated key personnel from the hospital, including the CEO and executive vice president.
In addition to the wire fraud charges, Shodiya faces allegations of aggravated identity theft for pretending to be Fairview executives. Luger emphasized that the duo’s fraudulent activities redirected over $13 million in payments from Minnesota-based healthcare companies to accounts controlled by Shodiya, Jamiu, and their co-conspirators.
If apprehended, Shodiya and Jamiu would be extradited to the United States and required to forfeit all assets linked to their criminal profits to American authorities.