A 38-year-old Nigerian-Australian, Foluso Semiu Omole, has been denied bail in Australia over his alleged involvement in a $5 million fraud targeting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Omole, who is a director of an NDIS-registered provider, was arrested at Adelaide Airport on August 14 while allegedly attempting to leave Australia for Nigeria. A court heard that he had purchased a one-way ticket to Nigeria before his arrest.
Australian authorities allege that Omole was involved in a scheme in which confidential information belonging to NDIS participants was obtained and used to submit fraudulent claims over a period of about six years.
Investigators allege that the information came from a female employee of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA). The employee was arrested in June and is accused of unlawfully accessing more than 40 protected participant records and receiving more than A$53,000 connected to the alleged scheme.
Authorities also allege that Omole transferred significant amounts of money to Nigeria and had begun cutting ties in Australia, factors prosecutors relied on in arguing that he posed a flight risk if released on bail.
Omole has denied the allegations. His lawyer reportedly argued that his planned trip was not an attempt to escape prosecution, saying the ticket was for a return journey to London and had been purchased before the co-accused employee was arrested.
The alleged fraud involves Australia’s NDIS, a government-funded programme that provides support to eligible people living with permanent and significant disabilities. Authorities have stressed the importance of protecting the scheme from fraudulent claims and misuse of participant information.
The case is now before the Adelaide Magistrates Court, with another hearing scheduled for September.
Omole remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The allegations against him have not been established.
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