General
FG Keeps Mute as FBI Indicts Over 75 Nigerians for Fraud
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:
- VALENTINE IRO, aka “Iro Enterprises,” aka “Valentine Obinna Iro ,” aka ” Obinna Iro ,” 16 aka ” Obinna Nassa,”
- CHUKWUDI CHRI STOGUNUS IGBOKWE, aka ” Christogunus C. Igbokwe,” aka ” Chris Kudon ,” aka “Atete ,” aka “Still Kudon ,”
- JERRY ELO IKOGHO , aka “J Man,”
- IZUCHUKWU KINGSLEY UMEJESI, aka ” Kingsley Umejesi, ” aka “Armeni an Man,” aka “Kingsley LA,” aka “I zuking Aka Aku ,”
- ADEGOKE MOSES OGUNGBE , aka “P & P Motors,” aka “Pp, ”
- ALBERT LEWIS CATHEY, aka “Alb, ” aka “Abert Jag,” aka “Al,”
- TITYAYE MARINA MANSBANGURA, aka “Tityaye Igbokwe ,” aka “Marina Mansour,” aka “Marina Mansaray,” aka “Marina Tityaye Mans Bangura,”
- CHUKWUDI COLLINS AJAEZE, aka “Thank You Jesus”
- EKENE AUGUSTINE EKECHUKWU, aka “Ogedi Power,” aka “Power,”
- CHUKS EROHA, aka “Chuks Nassa Iro,” aka “Nassa,” aka “Prince Chuddy,” aka “Nurse Chuddy,”
- COLLINS NNAEMEKA OJIMBA, aka “Collins Emeka Ojimba,” aka “Ojimba Collins,” aka “Charly.Africa,”
- FNU LNU, aka “Xplora G,”
- UCHENNA OCHIAGHA, aka “Urch Agu,” aka “Advanced Mega Plus Ltd,”
- NNAMDI THEOJOSEPH DURU, aka “Duru Theo Joseph Nnamdi,” aka “Williams High School,” aka “Ifytyns,”
- ERICSON UCHE OFORKA, aka “Oforka,” aka “Eric Oforka,”
- MARK IFEANYI CHUKWUOCHA, aka “Mark Iheanyi Chukwuocha,” aka “Chukwu Mark,” aka “Markife,”
- AUGUSTINE NNAMDI, aka “Nnamdi Augustine,” aka “Jazz,”
- CHIEMEZIE CHRISTOPHER CHILAKA, aka “Fanta,”
- CHARLES OHAJIMKPO, aka “Giggs,” aka “Ryan Giggs,” aka “Charles,”
- STANLEY UGOCHUKWU UCHE, aka “Ugo Law,” aka “Uche Stanley,” aka “He is risen.Happy Easter!,”
- CHIKA AUGUSTINE ODIONYENMA, aka “Tony Augustin Odionyenma,” aka “Chika Tony,” aka “CTA Finance Source Intl,”
- PASCHAL CHIMA OGBONNA, aka “Chima,” aka “Paschal,”
- SAMUEL NNAMDI ONWUASOANYA, aka “Sammy Lee Nnamdi,” aka “Onwuasoanya Samuel Nnamdi,” aka “Enugu Ogo,”
- MACWILLIAM CHINONSO CHUKWUOCHA, aka “ChiBoy,”
- EMMANUEL ONYEKA UZOKA, aka “Emmanuel Mansion,” aka “Mansion,” aka “Son of God,” aka “Ezirim Uzoma,”
- JOSHUA ANIEFIOK AWAK, aka “Joe Awk,” aka “Kwee Tin Law,”
- GEORGE UGOCHUKWU EGWUMBA, aka “George Ugo,” aka “Ugo Aunty Scholar,”
- UCHECHUKWU SOLOMON EZIRIM, aka “Uche Nwanne,” aka “Uche Ezirim,”
- AUGUSTINE IFEANYI OKAFOR, aka “Zero,” aka “St.Austine,” aka “Austine,” aka “Ifeanyichukwu Okafor,”
- FNU LNU, aka “Okay Sam Mal,” LESLIE N. MBA, aka “Mystical,” aka “Nwachinemere Leslie,”
- OGOCHUKWU INNOCENT IKEWESI, aka “Ogoo UK,” aka “Innocent Ikewesi,”
- EMMANUEL UZOMA OGANDU, aka “Nwachinaemere,” aka “Uzoma,”
- AMARACHUKWU HARLEY ANYANWU, aka “GodisGod,” aka “War B,”
- BRIGHT IFEANYI AZUBUIKE, aka “Bright Bauer Azubuike,” aka “Ifeanyi Jnr,”
- EMEKA MOSES NWACHUKWU, aka “All Man,” aka “Omalitoto,” FNU LNU, aka “Donatus Izunwanne,” aka “Izunwanne Donatus Chibuikem,” aka “Deworlddonmax,”
- CHINWENDU KENNETH OSUJI, aka “Father,”
- EUSEBIUS UGOCHUKWU ONYEKA, aka “Ugo UK,” aka “sly19 sly,”
- CHIDI ANUNOBI, aka “Anunobi Chidi,” aka “Chidioo,”
- ANTHONY NWABUNWANNE OKOLO, aka “Eric West,” aka “Erci West,” aka “Code,”
- OBINNA CHRISTIAN ONUWA, aka “Papa Chukwuezugo,” aka “Obinna Onuwa Abala,” aka “Obyno Abala,”
- CHIJIOKE CHUKWUMA ISAMADE, aka “Mr CJ,” aka “CJ,”
- LINUS NNAMDI MADUFOR, aka “Madufor Nnamdi,”
- CHRYSAUGONUS NNEBEDUM, aka “Cris,”
- UGOCHUKWU OKEREKE, aka “Blade,” aka “Kingsly Cris,” aka “Okereke Ugochukwu,”
- FIDEL LEON ODIMARA, aka “Fiedel Odimara,” aka “Ndaa,” aka “Dee Dutchman,”
- KINGSLEY CHINEDU ONUDOROGU, aka “OBJ,”
- DESSI NZENWAH, aka “Desmond Sage,” aka “Des Nzenwa,” aka “Saga Lounge,”
- CHIMAROKE OBASI, aka “Chima Russia”
- JAMES CHIGOZIE AGUBE, aka “Smart,” aka “Smart Agube,” aka “Smart Chigozie Agube”
- CHIMAOBI UZOZIE OKORIE, aka “Omaobi,” aka “Mobility,”
- OGOCHUKWU OHIRI, aka “Ogomegbulam Ohiri,” aka “Ologbo,”
- KENNEDY CHIBUEZE UGWU, aka “Kennedy David,”
- IFEANYICHUKWU OLUWADAMILARE AGWUEGBO, aka “B😎😎$$ IFF¥,”
- VICTOR IFEANYI CHUKWU, aka “Ifeannyi Soccer,” aka “Vic Chux,”
- CHIDI EMMANUEL MEGWA, aka “Cantr,” aka “Canta Jr.,”
- PRINCEWILL ARINZE DURU, aka “Arnzi Prince Will,” aka “Arinze,”
- DESMOND IWU, aka “Desmond Chigozie Iwu,” aka “Lalaw,” aka “Odo Desmond,”
- ONYEKA VINCENT CHIKA, aka “Chyco,” aka “Chika Ejima,” aka “Vincent Chika Onyeka,”
- IFEANYI KINGSLEY MEZIENWA, aka “Ifeanyi Ali,” aka “Ifeanyichukwu Mezienwa,”
- VICTOR UCHENNA AGUH, aka “Orch Sod,” aka “Uche SP,” aka “Rich Homie Urch,”
- KEVIN AMARACHI ESHIMBU, aka “Humble,” aka “Humble Amarachukwu,” aka “Dato Humble,”
- VITALIS KELECHI ANOZIE, aka “Kelechi Vitalis Anozie,” aka “Kelechi Anozieh,” aka “Pastor Kel Anozie,” aka “Pastor Kc,” aka “Choice,”
- WILLIAMS OBIORA AGUNWA, aka “Don Williams,”
- GEORGE CHIMEZIE DIKE, aka “Chimekros,” aka “Slim Dad…No…1,”
- MUNACHISO KYRIAN UKACHUKWU, aka “Muna,”
- NWANNEBUIKE OSMUND, aka “Osmund Nwannebuike,” aka “Olivite,” aka “Nikky Bro.,”
- CHIDIEBERE FRANKLIN NWANGWU, aka “Frank Chidi,” aka “Franklin Nwangwu,” aka “Agogo,”
- DAMIAN UCHECHUKWU AJAH, aka “Uche Ajah,” aka “Ajah Damian Uchechukwu,” aka “Uchechukwu Demian Ajah,”
- EMEKA P. EJIOFOR, aka “Ejiofor Emeka,”
- LAWRENCE CHUKWUMA UBASINEKE, aka “Ubasineke Chuks,” aka “Chukwuma Ubasineke,”
- CHINEDU BRIGHT IBETO, aka “Doggy,” aka “Doggy Lucino,”
- VALENTINE AMARACHI NWANEGWO, aka “Satis,” aka “Satis Amarachi Satis,”
- EMMANUEL CHIDIEBERE DIKE, aka “Emmanet,”
- JEREMIAH UTIEYIN EKI, aka “Uti,” CHINAKA DAVIDSON IWUOHA, aka “Tmrw Afrika Will Wake Up,” aka “Cookie,” aka “All Africa Media Network,”
- CHIMA DARLINGTON DURU, aka “Kajad,” aka “Kajad Jesus,”
- IKENNA CHRISTIAN IHEJIUREME, aka “Piper,” aka “Am Happy!,”
- 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.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) has revealed that the phantom Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) does not operate any account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), adding that no public funds or salaries have been paid to the organisation.
The latest clarification was issued by the director of public relations at the OAGF, Mr Bawa Mokwa, amid controversy over the status of the PFIPC as a Nigerian government entity.
Earlier on June 11, the Chief of Staff to the Nigerian President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, said in a disclaimer that the purported activities of the so-called ‘Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) and Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)’ were a fictitious entity and that his office had not appointed anyone to lead it.
The Chief of Staff said the PFIPC/PEAC convener, Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi, is an impostor and is facing criminal prosecution.
The Presidency, in an X statement on July 1, said that Mr Adeyemi used forged documents to fraudulently open a CBN account by deceiving the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
“The police found that Adeyemi, using the fake documents he created, fraudulently opened a CBN account by misleading the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation. According to the police, no government money has been transferred into the account,” it said.
Meanwhile, on July 2, Mr Adeyemi countered the Chief of Staff’s disclaimer, alleging that Mr Gbajabiamila received N400 million through a proxy to facilitate his appointment.
The OAGF spokesperson explained that the process of opening a CBN account for the PFIPC was never completed because the required documentation to activate the account was not submitted.
“You cannot open an account at the CBN without authorisation from the Accountant-General. The Accountant-General will authorise them to open an account at the CBN,” Mr Mokwa said.
Mr Mokwa stated that the purported PFIPC Director-General, Mr Adeyemi, approached the OAGF and presented an appointment letter, but alleged that the document concerned an already existing agency rather than the PFIPC.
The OAGF press director explained that the account-opening process commenced based on the document presented. Still, the account never became operational because the names of the officials expected to serve as account signatories were not submitted.
He insisted there was no channel through which the Office of the Accountant-General could release government funds to the agency because it did not have an operational account or a CBN-created one.
“The account, till today, has not seen the light of day. It has not seen one kobo because the account is not completely operational.
“That portrays that he has not collected a dime. The AGF has not released a dime to him because they don’t even have a place where the money can be paid,” Mr Mokwa said.
Mr Mokwa explained that before any federal agency can recruit workers and place them on the government payroll, it must first obtain the necessary approvals from the Federal Character Commission (FCC), the Budget Office, and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).
He added that after the approvals are granted, the names of employees can be submitted to the Office of the Accountant-General for enrolment on the federal payroll and payment of salaries.
“If they give you a waiver for 200 people, you take the waiver to these agencies and then present the papers to the Accountant-General.
“He cannot capture even one name without those approvals because once they are captured, payment will come from the budget,” Mr Mokwa explained.
Mr Mokwa added that none of those requirements had been completed.
By Adedapo Adesanya
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, July 10, to deliver judgment in the suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of 57 properties allegedly linked to former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik had initially scheduled the judgment for Monday after the parties adopted their final written addresses in May. However, the court postponed the ruling to July 10 without stating the reason for the adjournment.
The EFCC is asking the court to order the permanent forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government, arguing that they are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
Counsel to the commission, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), maintained that Mr Malami and the other respondents failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the properties were lawfully acquired.
Opposing the application, Mr Malami’s counsel, Mr Adedayo Adedeji (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the agency’s case was based on suspicion rather than credible and admissible evidence.
He further submitted that the EFCC relied largely on extrajudicial statements and contended that several of the properties in dispute were acquired before Mr Malami assumed office as Attorney-General, making them unrelated to any alleged criminal proceeds.
Counsel representing other individuals and companies named as respondents in the matter also asked the court to reject the EFCC’s application for final forfeiture.
The court is expected to determine the application on July 10, when it delivers judgment on whether the disputed properties should be permanently forfeited to the federal government.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government says another batch of Nigerians is expected to leave South Africa on Tuesday amid the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks that has led to the death of two citizens.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement posted on her official X handle on Monday morning.
“Another evacuation flight will leave for Johannesburg tomorrow, Tuesday, July 7 (2026), to bring home our citizens,” Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu wrote.
The evacuation is the latest in the repatriation exercise by Nigerian authorities as they seek the safety of their citizens in South Africa.
Already, three batches of Nigerians have returned home since the evacuation began last month. The minister said the last flight for the evacuation is “expected to arrive in South Africa on 10th July”.
“Our Nationals are again advised to weigh the risks regarding whether to remain or return,” she said.
The Nigerian foreign ministry has said on Sunday that two Nigerians were killed in South Africa, one of them by police and threatened to take unspecified action if the attacks persisted.
Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu asked Nigerians in South Africa “who consider their lives at risk to take advantage of the FG-sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home”.
“Following the earlier evacuations of our citizens in 3 separate operations, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, extended the Evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight having arrived in Nigeria on 3rd July 2026,” the diplomat said. “Our citizens are strongly advised to take advantage of this extension and utilise the full capacity of the aircraft.”
The minister condemned the killing of the two Nigerians in South Africa, calling on authorities to “urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice”.
“There are no signs that the situation is improving,” she said.
“Nigeria remains concerned about the safety of its citizens in South Africa as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants, and even more so following the deaths of 2 Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during these unfortunate events,” the minister said.
“For many still sitting on the fence, they should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced, but not lives lost,” she wrote.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad and will put all necessary measures in place to protect them.”
Several African countries have repatriated their citizens from South Africa as fringe groups began demanding all illegal migrants leave by June 30, in a campaign that saw violent protests and clashes in which foreign nationals were killed.
The Border Management Authority says that more than 35,000 people have already been repatriated or deported since June 7.
The groups mobilising against illegal immigrants blame them for high unemployment and lack of services, pressing social problems that analysts say are largely due to government failures.
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