A Nigerian-Australian man, identified as Foluso Semiu Omole, 38, has been charged in Australia over an alleged fraud scheme involving the country’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), reportedly worth more than A$5 million (about N5 billion).
Omole was reportedly arrested by police at Adelaide Airport in South Australia as he allegedly prepared to travel out of the country.
Australian authorities allege that Omole, who was a director of an NDIS-registered provider, was involved in a scheme in which confidential information belonging to NDIS participants was allegedly obtained and used to submit fraudulent claims.
Investigators allege that more than 40 protected participant records were accessed without authorisation by an employee of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), who is also facing charges in connection with the investigation.
Police further allege that the information was subsequently used to lodge thousands of fraudulent NDIS claims over a period of about six years, with the alleged fraud exceeding A$5 million.
The NDIA employee, who has also been charged, allegedly received more than A$53,000 in connection with the scheme.
According to court reports, prosecutors opposed bail for Omole, arguing that he posed a flight risk. They reportedly told the court that he had stopped his employment, ceased paying workers and had purchased a one-way ticket to Nigeria.
Authorities also alleged that significant sums of money connected to the investigation had been transferred to Nigeria.
However, Omole has denied the allegations.
His lawyer reportedly argued that the travel arrangements did not demonstrate an intention to flee Australia, saying the ticket was a return ticket to London and had been purchased before police raids connected to the investigation.
The court was also reportedly told that Omole had no previous criminal record.
His bail application was denied.
