Economic and Financial Crime Commission has nabbed Osondu Victor Igwilo, who had been on the watch list of the United States of America Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, since 2018. The 52-year-old Igwilo, who is the alleged leader of a criminal network of “ catchers’’, was arrested alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmaunel and John Anazo Achukwu at a studio in the Sangotedo area of Lagos for an alleged fraud, money laundering and identity theft to the tune of about $100m.
A statement by the EFCC Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said 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 United States of America, USA, bank officials in person and via the internet. Investigation revealed that those who fell victims of the suspects’ criminal activities were asked to make certain payments before they could receive their funding. It was also revealed that 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. Following their arrest, five houses located in choice areas of Lagos were recovered from Igwilo. Uwujaren said that the suspects would soon be charged to court.
