Two Nigerians wanted over $13m fraud in U.S. healthcare scheme

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The United States has indicted two Nigerians, Shodiya Babatunde (43), and Jamui Ahmed (31), for their alleged roles in a $13 million fraudulent business email conspiracy that targeted Minnesotan healthcare organisations.

The two defendants syphoned millions meant for Fairview Health into accounts under their control, along with co-conspirators, according to allegations released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota on Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger claims that Babatunde and Ahmed tricked gullible staff members of multiple Minnesota-based healthcare companies into sending money to fictitious accounts.

The plan, which ran from October 2020 to 2024, comprised the development of fictitious email addresses and websites that were supposed to represent senior Fairview Health executives.

“As part of the scheme, Babatunde and Ahmed created a fake ‘spoofed’ internet domain designed to appear as though it was controlled by Fairview Health,” Luger said.

Using these fictitious accounts, the pair conducted phishing attacks, procuring passwords and account information from vendors.

The statement added, “Unbeknownst to the vendor companies, the new accounts were actually controlled by Babatunde and Ahmed and their co-conspirators, not Fairview Health.

“In total, Babatunde and Ahmed fraudulently directed more than $13m in payments intended for Fairview Health from Minnesota-based healthcare companies to accounts controlled by Babatunde, Ahmed, and their co-conspirators.”

Babatunde and Ahmed have since fled and are currently fugitives from justice, residing in Nigeria.

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