Nigerian-Born Engineer Pleads Guilty to $1.64 Million Fraud in U.S.
A 57-year-old Nigerian-born engineer, Adebanjo “Banjo” Popoola, has pleaded guilty to defrauding the City of St. Louis, Missouri, of about $1.64 million meant for the rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings.
Popoola entered the guilty plea on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, before the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, admitting to three counts of wire fraud.
According to U.S. authorities, Popoola served as a building inspector with the City of St. Louis, where he managed key aspects of two property rehabilitation programmes—Stable Communities STL and Prop NS.
The Stable Communities STL programme was funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act to rehabilitate privately owned properties, while Prop NS focused on residential properties owned by the City’s Land Reutilization Authority and was financed through city-issued general obligation bonds.
As part of his responsibilities, Popoola identified buildings for rehabilitation, prepared project scopes, reviewed and awarded contracts, inspected completed work and certified projects for payment to contractors.
Prosecutors said Popoola admitted directing public funds to companies secretly controlled by his relatives and associates.
Court documents revealed that he instructed his sister, who lives in Texas and had never visited St. Louis, to register Farst Construction LLC in Missouri in October 2022. Authorities also said his future wife established Premier Finish Contractors LLC in February 2021.
The companies were allegedly used to receive payments from the city under the rehabilitation programmes.
The case forms part of ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to investigate and prosecute fraud involving public funds. Popoola is expected to be sentenced at a later date.
Nigerian-Born Engineer Pleads Guilty to $1.64 Million Fraud in U.S.