Two Nigerians Indicted in $13 Million U.S. Healthcare Fraud Scheme

Two Nigerian nationals, Shodiya Babatunde (43) and Jamui Ahmed (31), have been indicted by U.S. authorities for their alleged involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme that siphoned over $13 million from healthcare companies in Minnesota.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota announced the charges on Thursday, detailing how the suspects, along with their co-conspirators, deceived employees of Fairview Health and other local healthcare firms to redirect payments into accounts they controlled.

According to U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, the fraudulent scheme operated from October 2020 to 2024, utilizing fake internet domains and email accounts that mimicked those of Fairview Health executives. “Babatunde and Ahmed created a spoofed internet domain designed to appear as though it was controlled by Fairview Health,” Luger stated.

The pair employed phishing tactics to obtain sensitive information, such as passwords and account details from vendors. These fraudulent accounts misled vendor companies into believing they were engaging with Fairview Health, while the funds were actually funneled into accounts controlled by Babatunde, Ahmed, and their associates.

In total, the duo managed to redirect more than $13 million intended for Fairview Health. Both Babatunde and Ahmed are currently fugitives, reportedly residing in Nigeria, as authorities continue their search for the suspects.