A Nigerian-born building development inspector in St. Louis, Missouri, Banjo Popoola, has been indicted by a U.S. grand jury for allegedly defrauding the government of more than $4.7 million through construction contracts awarded to his wife and sister.
As reported by Peoples Gazette, the indictment alleged that Popoola used the illicit gains to fund a luxury wedding in Hawaii with his second wife, casino gambling, expensive cars, and other personal expenses.
As a building development inspector, Popoola was responsible for identifying dilapidated private properties, taking bids for their renovation, selecting contractors, and certifying completed projects for payment.
According to the indictment, he exploited his position to steer contracts to two companies linked to his family.
The indictment states that Popoola had his sister, residing in Texas, establish Farst Construction LLC in Missouri in October 2022, despite her lack of experience in construction.
Earlier, in February 2021, he reportedly had his wife incorporate Premier Finish Contractors LLC.
Between February 2021 and August 2024, Popoola allegedly diverted over $4.7 million in contracts to these family-run companies, personally pocketing more than $1.6 million.
Some of the funds were cashed via company cheques, as he controlled the debit cards.
Authorities claim he used multiple false addresses—including one belonging to his ex-wife—for Farst LLC, and certified projects that were never completed.
He then recommended the projects for payment under the Stable Communities STL and NS Props programmes.
“One or more of the rehabilitation and stabilisation projects under both the Stable Communities STL and the Prop NS programmes, Farst failed to perform the work as contracted, but Popoola falsely certified to the City’s Comptroller that the work had been completed properly,” the indictment dated March 11 stated.
Under the Stable Communities STL programme, Popoola allegedly awarded 10 contracts worth over $1.5 million to his wife’s company, Premier, and 13 contracts worth about $1.8 million to his sister’s company, Farst.
Under the NS programme, Farst received eight contracts valued at $339,500, while Premier was awarded 23 contracts totaling $1,035,100.
The indictment further noted that Popoola had falsely declared in his 2022 and 2023 St. Louis Employee Secondary Employment Questionnaires that he had no financial interest in any awarded contracts, in violation of U.S. state code.
U.S. Attorney Thomas C. Album stated that Popoola’s certifications were knowingly false, given his ongoing interests in Farst and Premier.
The Justice Department traced the fraud proceeds to mortgage payments, airline tickets, luxury car purchases—including a Lexus—his Hawaii wedding, casino gambling, and other personal expenditures.
Popoola faces three counts of wire fraud, and the Department of Justice is seeking forfeiture of at least $1.6 million