The Unite States Government has congratulated Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, for arresting a Nigerian man who had been on the wanted list of the U.S Federal Bureau of Intelligence, FBI.
The EFCC in a statement, Monday, 14 March, 2022, announced the arrest of Osondu Victor Igwilo, at a studio in the Sangotedo area of Lagos.
TheFact Nigeria reports that Igwilo, 42, who was arrested on March 11, alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel and John Anazo Achukwu, had been wanted by the FBI for alleged $100 million wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. He had been on the wanted list since 2018.
It was gathered that before their arrest, Igwilo and his accomplices had allegedly been involved in an advance-fee scheme that involved false promises of investment funding by individuals who impersonated some US bank officials in person and via the internet.
According to the anti-graft Commission, those who fell victim to the suspects’ criminal activities were asked to make certain payments before they could receive their funding, while proceeds of the scheme were allegedly laundered through U.S. bank accounts and diverted back to the alleged perpetrators in Nigeria.
“Consequently, Igwilo was placed on the FBI watch list, following a criminal complaint filed against him in the United States District Court, Houston, Texas in December 2016,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, five houses located in choice areas of Lagos have been recovered from Mr Igwilo, EFCC revealed, adding that the suspects will soon be charged to court.
The U.S Mission in Nigeria issued a congratulatory statement to the EFCC immediately the anti-corruption agency announced the arrest of Mr Igwilo.
The U.S Mission said in a Twitter post yesterday, “With justice as our mutual priority, we congratulate @officialEFCC for partnering with the @FBI & arresting long-time wanted suspect, Igwilo, for fraud conspiracy, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.”
