Opinion ID: 1085312
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mr. Rufai and Mr. Adegboye

Text: Mr. Rufai also is a native of Nigeria and holds passports from both Nigeria and Trinidad and Tobago (“Trinidad”). After graduating from college in economics in Nigeria, he taught high school English, commerce, economics, and science for two years. He then worked for the Nigerian Department of Education for three years, after which he started a business importing used products. In 1994, Mr. Rufai moved to Trinidad, where he worked as a security guard and opened a mini mart. In 1999, he came to New York to buy products to export to Nigeria while his wife stayed in Trinidad to run their store. In New York, he lived with a cousin, Adebola Adebayo. Mr. Rufai met Mr. Ohaka outside a gas station in Brooklyn, New York, in 2004. In 2005 and again in 2006, Mr. Rufai and Mr. Ohaka purchased used goods that Mr. Rufai then shipped to Nigeria. In 2006 and 2007, Mr. Rufai sold three vehicles to Mr. Ohaka. Beginning in the fall of 2007, Mr. Rufai helped establish First Century and was part of the company’s legal front. In 2008 and 2009, Mr. Rufai and his cousin Mr. Adebayo managed a supermarket in New York that they planned to buy with Mr. Ohaka. Less of Mr. Adegboye’s history was presented at trial. He also is from Nigeria and moved with his family to the United States after receiving a resident visa. The Adegboye family lived in the same building as Mr. Rufai and his cousin. Mr. Rufai introduced Mr. Adegboye to Mr. Ohaka in 2007. Mr. Adegboye was involved in real -5- estate in New York. He also helped establish and run First Century and was part of the company’s legal front.