Nigerian Man Charged Over Alleged $5m Disability Scheme Fraud in Australia

(Foluso Omole. Photo by Peoples Gazette)

A 38-year-old Nigerian man living in Australia has been charged with fr@ud involving 5 million dollars taken from a government disability support scheme.

Foluso Omole was arrested at Adelaide Airport last Friday as he was preparing to leave the country for Nigeria.

He had bought a one-way ticket to Nigeria before his arrest.

In court on Monday, prosecutors said Omole had illegally obtained information from an employee of the National Disability Insurance Agency over a period of six years.

He then allegedly used that information to fraudulently claim disability support benefits that he was not entitled to.

Omole's lawyer, Mark Twiggs, argued against the charges, pointing out that his client had no previous criminal record and deserved to be released on bail pending trial.

However, the magistrate, Patrick Hill, refused the bail application.

Hill said he was concerned that Omole was a flight risk, especially given that he had purchased a one-way ticket to Nigeria rather than a return ticket.

The judge said the type of ticket made a difference in assessing whether Omole might try to flee.

Omole is scheduled to return to court in September.