US court jails Nigerian socialite 11 years for $1.3m COVID-19 fraud

A Nigerian man was sentenced to 135 months in federal prison for defrauding California and Nevada out of $1.3 million in COVID-19 pandemic unemployment and disability insurance benefits by submitting more than 100 fraudulent applications using stolen identities and using the money to build a nightclub and mall in Nigeria.

Abiola Femi Quadri, 43, of Pasadena, was sentenced by United States District Judge George H. Wu, on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

The judge also ordered him to pay $1,356,229 in restitution and a $35,000 fine.

Quadri is a Nigerian citizen who acquired permanent residency in the United States through what he described – according to court documents – as a “fake wedding” in messages to a woman who was not his wife, pleaded guilty on January 2 to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

Quadri, who lives in the San Gabriel Valley withdrew the fraudulent unemployment and disability benefits at ATMs from 2021 until his arrest in September 2024 at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was scheduled to fly to Nigeria.

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Quadri sent at least $500,000 abroad during the scheme. He also paid for the construction of a 120-room resort hotel in Nigeria, the Oyins International, that includes a nightclub, a mall, and additional high-end amenities. Quadri failed to disclose his ownership of the hotel as required when completing his financial disclosure to the court.

Investigators found on Quadri’s phone images of 17 counterfeit checks totaling more than $3.3 million, along with messages about negotiating the checks. Some of the checks were made payable to shell businesses held in the names of Quadri’s aliases.

California paid Quadri to provide daycare services to developmentally disabled children through his Altadena-based business, Rock of Peace. When agents searched Quadri’s residence, they found the children’s misappropriated food-aid debit cards.

The United States Postal Inspection Service, 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.

US court jails Nigerian socialite 11 years for $1.3m COVID-19 fraud

Super Eagles need miracle to qualify for World Cup – Ahmed Musa

The substantive captain of the senior national team of Nigeria Ahmed Musa says it will take a miracle for the team to qualify for the 2026 world cup, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.

Nigeria are presently 4th in their world cup qualifiers group, six points away from the group leaders South Africa, who they will be up against in September when the games in the qualifiers resumes.

However there is an opening for them to move three points closer to the lead with FIFA set to dock them three points for fielding an ineligible player in their 2-0 win over Lesotho during the last round of games.

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Super Eagles need miracle to qualify for World Cup – Ahmed Musa

Tottenham sign West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus for £55m

Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced the signing of Ghanaian international Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The deal, reportedly worth £55 million, marks Spurs’ fifth major acquisition of the summer transfer window.

Kudus, who joined West Ham from Ajax in 2023, made a notable impact with 13 goals in 65 Premier League appearances.

His dynamic playing style and versatility have earned him widespread recognition, making him a valuable asset for Tottenham as they look to bolster their attacking options under new head coach Thomas Frank.

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Before his time in the Premier League, Kudus began his professional journey with Danish side FC Nordsjaelland after graduating from Ghana’s renowned Right to Dream academy.

He joins a growing list of summer signings at Spurs, which includes Mathys Tel, Kevin Danso, Luka Vuskovic, and Kota Takai.

Tottenham will begin their pre-season campaign with a match against Reading on July 19.

Kudus’ arrival signals the club’s intent to compete aggressively this season, while reports also suggest that England international Morgan Gibbs-White is close to finalizing a move from Nottingham Forest to the North London club.

Tottenham sign West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus for £55m