By SUNTV Global Channel | July 2, 2026
A Nigerian-born engineer and former building inspector with the City of St. Louis, Missouri, Adebanjo “Banjo” Popoola, has pleaded guilty in the United States to multiple counts of wire fraud after admitting to orchestrating a scheme that diverted more than $1.6 million in public funds meant for building rehabilitation projects.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri, the 57-year-old admitted before a federal court in St. Louis to three counts of wire fraud linked to housing rehabilitation programmes funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and city-issued bonds.
Prosecutors said Popoola abused his position as a building division inspector by manipulating the contract award process and steering millions of dollars in city-funded projects to two companies secretly controlled by members of his family.
Investigators revealed that one of the companies, Farst Construction LLC, was established by Popoola’s sister at his direction, while the second company, Premier Finish Contractors LLC, was created by the woman who later became his wife.
Between 2023 and 2024, authorities said the two companies received millions of dollars in contracts under the Stable Communities STL and Prop NS housing rehabilitation programmes.
Court documents showed that Farst Construction received approximately $1.79 million, while Premier Finish Contractors was awarded about $1.53 million, representing nearly 42 percent of all funds disbursed under one of the rehabilitation programmes.
Despite receiving the contracts, investigators said several property owners and city officials complained that many of the rehabilitation projects were either left incomplete or poorly executed.
Prosecutors alleged that Popoola falsely certified the projects as completed, allowing city payments to be released to the companies.
Authorities further stated that after subcontractors were paid, Popoola, his wife and his sister shared approximately $1.64 million from the diverted funds for personal use.
The money was reportedly spent on mortgage payments, vehicle purchases and repairs, travel, casino gambling, dining, entertainment and financing Popoola’s lavish wedding in Hawaii in September 2023.
Investigators also accused Popoola of concealing his financial interests by filing false disclosure forms with the City of St. Louis, denying any ownership or involvement in businesses that received city contracts.
His wife and sister were also alleged to have submitted false conflict-of-interest certifications during the contract approval process.
Popoola is scheduled to be sentenced on October 6, 2026.
The case remains one of the most significant public corruption prosecutions involving misuse of federal housing rehabilitation funds in the City of St. Louis.
SUNTV Global Channel will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as they become available.
