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FG Keeps Mute as FBI Indicts Over 75 Nigerians for Fraud

Published

7 years ago

on

buhari thinking deep

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has clamped down on a number of Nigerians – counting up to 80 in an ongoing investigation over fraud related offences.

US Attorney, Mr Nick Hanna, disclosed this in a press statement released in Los Angeles, California on Thursday revealing a grand indictment on the Nigerians for participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud schemes and launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based money laundering network.

“Indictments showed very specific allegations against these suspects many of whom are based in Nigeria in terms of stealing money from victims. The indictment also focuses on those responsible for enabling these fraud schemes including operatives in Los Angeles,” Mr Hanna said.

He further explained that a total of 252 count charges ranging from “conspiracy to defraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, aggravated identity theft” have been filed against the suspects.

The indictment alleges that the defendants and others used various online fraud schemes – including business email compromise (BEC) frauds, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly – to defraud victims out of millions of dollars.

Business Post gathered that a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday showed that co-conspirators were based in Nigeria, the United States and other countries and contacted the lead defendants in the indictment. Some of these include Valentine Iro, 31, of Carson, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, of Gardena, both Nigerian citizens – for bank and money-service accounts that could receive funds fraudulently obtained from victims.

The indictment released further exposed the names and nicknames of the defendants, these are listed thus:

  1. VALENTINE IRO, aka “Iro Enterprises,” aka “Valentine Obinna Iro ,” aka ” Obinna Iro ,” 16 aka ” Obinna Nassa,”

  1. CHUKWUDI CHRI STOGUNUS IGBOKWE, aka ” Christogunus C. Igbokwe,” aka ” Chris Kudon ,” aka “Atete ,” aka “Still Kudon ,”

  1. JERRY ELO IKOGHO , aka “J Man,”

  1. IZUCHUKWU KINGSLEY UMEJESI, aka ” Kingsley Umejesi, ” aka “Armeni an Man,” aka “Kingsley LA,” aka “I zuking Aka Aku ,”

  1. ADEGOKE MOSES OGUNGBE , aka “P & P Motors,” aka “Pp, ”

  1. ALBERT LEWIS CATHEY, aka “Alb, ” aka “Abert Jag,” aka “Al,”

  1. TITYAYE MARINA MANSBANGURA, aka “Tityaye Igbokwe ,” aka “Marina Mansour,” aka “Marina Mansaray,” aka “Marina Tityaye Mans Bangura,”

  1. CHUKWUDI COLLINS AJAEZE, aka “Thank You Jesus”

  1. EKENE AUGUSTINE EKECHUKWU, aka “Ogedi Power,” aka “Power,”

  1. CHUKS EROHA, aka “Chuks Nassa Iro,” aka “Nassa,” aka “Prince Chuddy,” aka “Nurse Chuddy,”
  2. COLLINS NNAEMEKA OJIMBA, aka “Collins Emeka Ojimba,” aka “Ojimba Collins,” aka “Charly.Africa,”

  1. FNU LNU, aka “Xplora G,”

  1. UCHENNA OCHIAGHA, aka “Urch Agu,” aka “Advanced Mega Plus Ltd,”
  2. NNAMDI THEOJOSEPH DURU, aka “Duru Theo Joseph Nnamdi,” aka “Williams High School,” aka “Ifytyns,”

  1. ERICSON UCHE OFORKA, aka “Oforka,” aka “Eric Oforka,”

  1. MARK IFEANYI CHUKWUOCHA, aka “Mark Iheanyi Chukwuocha,” aka “Chukwu Mark,” aka “Markife,”

  1. AUGUSTINE NNAMDI, aka “Nnamdi Augustine,” aka “Jazz,”

  1. CHIEMEZIE CHRISTOPHER CHILAKA, aka “Fanta,”

  1. CHARLES OHAJIMKPO, aka “Giggs,” aka “Ryan Giggs,” aka “Charles,”

  1. STANLEY UGOCHUKWU UCHE, aka “Ugo Law,” aka “Uche Stanley,” aka “He is risen.Happy Easter!,”
  2. CHIKA AUGUSTINE ODIONYENMA, aka “Tony Augustin Odionyenma,” aka “Chika Tony,” aka “CTA Finance Source Intl,”

  1. PASCHAL CHIMA OGBONNA, aka “Chima,” aka “Paschal,”

  1. SAMUEL NNAMDI ONWUASOANYA, aka “Sammy Lee Nnamdi,” aka “Onwuasoanya Samuel Nnamdi,” aka “Enugu Ogo,”

  1. MACWILLIAM CHINONSO CHUKWUOCHA, aka “ChiBoy,”

  1. EMMANUEL ONYEKA UZOKA, aka “Emmanuel Mansion,” aka “Mansion,” aka “Son of God,” aka “Ezirim Uzoma,”

  1. JOSHUA ANIEFIOK AWAK, aka “Joe Awk,” aka “Kwee Tin Law,”

  1. GEORGE UGOCHUKWU EGWUMBA, aka “George Ugo,” aka “Ugo Aunty Scholar,”

  1. UCHECHUKWU SOLOMON EZIRIM, aka “Uche Nwanne,” aka “Uche Ezirim,”
  2. AUGUSTINE IFEANYI OKAFOR, aka “Zero,” aka “St.Austine,” aka “Austine,” aka “Ifeanyichukwu Okafor,”

  1. FNU LNU, aka “Okay Sam Mal,” LESLIE N. MBA, aka “Mystical,” aka “Nwachinemere Leslie,”

  1. OGOCHUKWU INNOCENT IKEWESI, aka “Ogoo UK,” aka “Innocent Ikewesi,”

  1. EMMANUEL UZOMA OGANDU, aka “Nwachinaemere,” aka “Uzoma,”

  1. AMARACHUKWU HARLEY ANYANWU, aka “GodisGod,” aka “War B,”

  1. BRIGHT IFEANYI AZUBUIKE, aka “Bright Bauer Azubuike,” aka “Ifeanyi Jnr,”

  1. EMEKA MOSES NWACHUKWU, aka “All Man,” aka “Omalitoto,” FNU LNU, aka “Donatus Izunwanne,” aka “Izunwanne Donatus Chibuikem,” aka “Deworlddonmax,”

  1. CHINWENDU KENNETH OSUJI, aka “Father,”

  1. EUSEBIUS UGOCHUKWU ONYEKA, aka “Ugo UK,” aka “sly19 sly,”

  1. CHIDI ANUNOBI, aka “Anunobi Chidi,” aka “Chidioo,”

  1. ANTHONY NWABUNWANNE OKOLO, aka “Eric West,” aka “Erci West,” aka “Code,”

  1. OBINNA CHRISTIAN ONUWA, aka “Papa Chukwuezugo,” aka “Obinna Onuwa Abala,” aka “Obyno Abala,”

  1. CHIJIOKE CHUKWUMA ISAMADE, aka “Mr CJ,” aka “CJ,”

  1. LINUS NNAMDI MADUFOR, aka “Madufor Nnamdi,”

  1. CHRYSAUGONUS NNEBEDUM, aka “Cris,”

  1. UGOCHUKWU OKEREKE, aka “Blade,” aka “Kingsly Cris,” aka “Okereke Ugochukwu,”

  1. FIDEL LEON ODIMARA, aka “Fiedel Odimara,” aka “Ndaa,” aka “Dee Dutchman,”

  1. KINGSLEY CHINEDU ONUDOROGU, aka “OBJ,”
  2. DESSI NZENWAH, aka “Desmond Sage,” aka “Des Nzenwa,” aka “Saga Lounge,”

  1. CHIMAROKE OBASI, aka “Chima Russia”

  1. JAMES CHIGOZIE AGUBE, aka “Smart,” aka “Smart Agube,” aka “Smart Chigozie Agube”

  1. CHIMAOBI UZOZIE OKORIE, aka “Omaobi,” aka “Mobility,”

  1. OGOCHUKWU OHIRI, aka “Ogomegbulam Ohiri,” aka “Ologbo,”

  1. KENNEDY CHIBUEZE UGWU, aka “Kennedy David,”

  1. IFEANYICHUKWU OLUWADAMILARE AGWUEGBO, aka “B😎😎$$ IFF¥,”

  1. VICTOR IFEANYI CHUKWU, aka “Ifeannyi Soccer,” aka “Vic Chux,”

  1. CHIDI EMMANUEL MEGWA, aka “Cantr,” aka “Canta Jr.,”

  1. PRINCEWILL ARINZE DURU, aka “Arnzi Prince Will,” aka “Arinze,”

  1. DESMOND IWU, aka “Desmond Chigozie Iwu,” aka “Lalaw,” aka “Odo Desmond,”

  1. ONYEKA VINCENT CHIKA, aka “Chyco,” aka “Chika Ejima,” aka “Vincent Chika Onyeka,”

  1. IFEANYI KINGSLEY MEZIENWA, aka “Ifeanyi Ali,” aka “Ifeanyichukwu Mezienwa,”

  1. VICTOR UCHENNA AGUH, aka “Orch Sod,” aka “Uche SP,” aka “Rich Homie Urch,”

  1. KEVIN AMARACHI ESHIMBU, aka “Humble,” aka “Humble Amarachukwu,” aka “Dato Humble,”

  1. VITALIS KELECHI ANOZIE, aka “Kelechi Vitalis Anozie,” aka “Kelechi Anozieh,” aka “Pastor Kel Anozie,” aka “Pastor Kc,” aka “Choice,”

  1. WILLIAMS OBIORA AGUNWA, aka “Don Williams,”

  1. GEORGE CHIMEZIE DIKE, aka “Chimekros,” aka “Slim Dad…No…1,”

  1. MUNACHISO KYRIAN UKACHUKWU, aka “Muna,”
  2. NWANNEBUIKE OSMUND, aka “Osmund Nwannebuike,” aka “Olivite,” aka “Nikky Bro.,”

  1. CHIDIEBERE FRANKLIN NWANGWU, aka “Frank Chidi,” aka “Franklin Nwangwu,” aka “Agogo,”

  1. DAMIAN UCHECHUKWU AJAH, aka “Uche Ajah,” aka “Ajah Damian Uchechukwu,” aka “Uchechukwu Demian Ajah,”

  1. EMEKA P. EJIOFOR, aka “Ejiofor Emeka,”

  1. LAWRENCE CHUKWUMA UBASINEKE, aka “Ubasineke Chuks,” aka “Chukwuma Ubasineke,”

  1. CHINEDU BRIGHT IBETO, aka “Doggy,” aka “Doggy Lucino,”

  1. VALENTINE AMARACHI NWANEGWO, aka “Satis,” aka “Satis Amarachi Satis,”

  1. EMMANUEL CHIDIEBERE DIKE, aka “Emmanet,”

  1. JEREMIAH UTIEYIN EKI, aka “Uti,” CHINAKA DAVIDSON IWUOHA, aka “Tmrw Afrika Will Wake Up,” aka “Cookie,” aka “All Africa Media Network,”

  1. CHIMA DARLINGTON DURU, aka “Kajad,” aka “Kajad Jesus,”

  1. IKENNA CHRISTIAN IHEJIUREME, aka “Piper,” aka “Am Happy!,”

  1. OBI ONYEDIKA MADEKWE, aka “Odu Investment,”

As at the time of this report, there has been no response or comment by the Nigerian Government over this issue.

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Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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General

We Prioritised Personal Pension Plan, Others for Robust Pension System— PenCom

Published

2 hours ago

on

29/04/2026

By

Personal Pension Plan PenCom DG

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ms Omolola Oloworaran, has highlighted strategies deployed by her organisation to ensure pension coverage is deepened in Nigeria.

Speaking at the ISSA Technical Seminar in Abuja recently, she said the steps taken were to build a more inclusive, transparent, and responsive pension system, where communication serves not just as information, but as a bridge to trust, accessibility, and sustained industry growth.

According to her, the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) has, over more than two decades, built a strong institutional foundation, but true inclusion goes beyond coverage to require trust and clear communication.

For this reason, PenCom has prioritised the Personal Pension Plan, strengthened stakeholder engagement, and invested in digital channels that reach contributors in accessible and relatable ways, she stated.

Ms Oloworaran further stressed that, “Effective communication is not a soft complement to regulation; it is a core instrument of coverage expansion, compliance, and public confidence.

“Every circular we issue, every benefit we pay, and every reform we introduce ultimately succeeds or fails on whether our members can understand it and act on it.”

The ISSA Technical Seminar, themed Improving Inclusivity and Accessibility of Social Security Services Through Effective Communication, was organised in collaboration with the International Social Security Association (ISSA).

It brought together key stakeholders across West Africa to advance dialogue on strengthening social security systems through clearer, more inclusive engagement.

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Nnaji Expresses Worry Over Lack of Power Plant Financing

Published

11 hours ago

on

28/04/2026

By

Gas Power Plant

By Adedapo Adesanya

Former Minister of Power, Mr Barth Nnaji, has run to the rooftop to declare that Nigeria has not secured financing for any major power plant in more than a decade, blaming policy reversals and weak government commitment for the prolonged investment drought.

Speaking at the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics conference in Lagos, Mr Nnaji said the country’s power sector lost momentum after a promising financing framework introduced under his watch was abandoned following a change in administration.

According to him, the partial risk guarantee instrument developed jointly with former Finance Minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had begun attracting international investors by reducing the risks associated with power projects in Nigeria.

“The world was galloping to us to finance power plants because we were getting a service guarantee,” he said, noting that the framework helped secure funding for the Azura-Edo Power Station, one of Nigeria’s most significant independent power projects.

However, he said the policy was scrapped after the administration changed, abruptly halting investor interest.

“Till today, we have not financed any new major power plant in Nigeria. That’s about 11 years ago,” he said.

Mr Nnaji argued that policy inconsistency remains one of the biggest obstacles to power sector growth, without clear, stable and bankable policies.

He said Nigeria will continue to struggle to attract the long-term capital required for large-scale electricity projects.

He also urged Nigeria to adopt a pragmatic approach to energy transition, stressing that natural gas should remain the backbone of the country’s power strategy. With more than 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, he said Nigeria is well-positioned to use gas as a bridge fuel for industrialisation and economic growth over the next two decades.

Yet, despite these vast reserves, inadequate infrastructure continues to constrain supply.

Mr Nnaji noted that the Nigeria LNG Limited is operating at only about 60 per cent of capacity due to insufficient gas availability, highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in gas production, processing and transportation.

He also cited the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station as a symbol of Nigeria’s execution failures. Although technically viable, the project has remained on the drawing board for more than 40 years because of weak political will and inconsistent implementation.

He noted that Nigeria’s power challenge is not a lack of resources but a failure of execution. With an installed generation capacity of about 13,000 megawatts, the country still produces only 4,000 to 5,000 megawatts on average. Until policy becomes consistent and infrastructure investment accelerates, reliable electricity will remain frustratingly out of reach for millions of Nigerians.

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Terra Industries Unveils Defence Drones, Robots to Support Nigerian Military

Published

11 hours ago

on

28/04/2026

By

Terra Industries

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria-backed startup Terra Industries has launched drones and mine-clearing robots for the country’s military use to fight Islamic militants and reduce reliance on imported defence equipment.

The startup on Monday unveiled interceptor drones, mine-clearing unmanned vehicles and battlefield intelligence software that officials said could help troops confronting insurgents who have increasingly used roadside bombs and drones in recent attacks.

The launch shows a growing effort by Nigeria to reduce dependence on imported military hardware and build domestic defence manufacturing capacity, after years of buying aircraft, armoured vehicles and surveillance systems from countries including China, Turkey, Pakistan and the United States.

However, procurement delays, maintenance bottlenecks and rising foreign exchange costs have strengthened the case for local production, with Terra Industries among the first of such beneficiaries.

Terra Industries had previously focused on civilian drones and security technology before expanding into defence systems. In February, it signed a pact with Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) as part of efforts to boost the country’s defence industrial capacity and advance indigenous high-technology development.

“We are unveiling new defence systems such as our interceptor UAVs, our minesweepers, ground vehicles that can detect IEDs on the ground, and our battlefield intelligence software,” according to Mr Nathan Nwachukwu, the chief executive officer of the firm.

The need for security has risen in recent years, as groups such as Islamic State and al-Qaeda are gaining ground in Africa, converging along a swathe of territory that stretches from Mali to Nigeria, which is also battling with Boko Haram and other cells which remain active despite repeated military offensives.

Militants have stepped up ​attacks against army positions using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and drones, forcing armies to invest in counter-drone systems, electronic warfare and autonomous ground equipment.

Major General Babatunde Alaya, head of the state-owned DICON, said collaboration with Terra Industries was necessary, given troop casualties caused by hidden explosives and roadside bombs.

DICON has long been central to Nigeria’s ambition to produce more of its own defence equipment, but progress has historically been slow. Partnerships with private firms are increasingly seen as a faster route to innovation and scale.

Terra Industries, which is valued at $100 million, has also announced plans to expand beyond Nigeria, including a manufacturing facility in Ghana, signalling ambitions to serve a wider African market and position itself in the region’s growing security technology industry.

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