US Declares Two Nigerians Wanted Over $3.1m Medicare Fraud, Drug Offences
The United States government has declared two Nigerian men wanted in separate cases involving an alleged $3.1 million Medicare fraud scheme and drug-related offences.
One of the men, Ezechukwu Joshua Ohaka, 57, is wanted over an alleged healthcare fraud scheme in which he and his co-conspirators reportedly obtained approximately $1.08 million in illicit proceeds.
According to a statement by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Ohaka allegedly used his Houston-based company, Luant & Odera, Inc., to submit more than $3.1 million in fraudulent Medicare claims for durable medical equipment, including power wheelchairs, motorised scooters and wheelchair accessories.
Investigators alleged that the equipment was either medically unnecessary or never supplied to beneficiaries. In some cases, beneficiaries reportedly received cheaper, inferior wheelchairs despite Medicare being billed for more expensive equipment.
Authorities said some of the beneficiaries had not consulted doctors, lacked the prescriptions required by Medicare or did not meet the programme’s medical necessity criteria.
The alleged scheme reportedly targeted Medicare beneficiaries living in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Some beneficiaries were allegedly recruited to participate in the scheme, with some receiving kickbacks.
The health department further alleged that Ohaka falsely presented himself as a medical doctor, referring to himself as “Dr Joshua Ohaka” while targeting beneficiaries.
According to the statement, a federal indictment accused Ohaka and his alleged co-conspirators of submitting more than $3.1 million in fraudulent claims, with the proceeds estimated at approximately $1.08 million.
In a separate case, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is seeking another Nigerian, Tayo Muyiwa Olukoya, 57, also known as “Uncle.”
The DEA said Olukoya is wanted in the Southern District of Indiana over an alleged conspiracy to possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute them and to distribute the substances.
Olukoya is described by the agency as a Black male with brown eyes, standing approximately 177 centimetres tall and weighing 99 kilogrammes.
The two cases involve separate allegations, and the accusations against both men remain allegations unless established in court.
