US Reacts As EFCC Arrests Osondu Victor Igwilo On FBI Watch List
The US Mission in Nigeria has reacted to the arrest of Osondu Victor Igwilo who has been on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, since 2018.
Igwilo was arrested on Thursday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over $100 million fraud.
The announcement was made on Monday in a post on the official Facebook page of the anti-graft agency.
It read, “Fifty-two 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.”
“Investigations 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.”
Reacting to the development, the US mission in Nigeria, in a statement on Monday evening hailed the commission for its efforts.
“With Justice as our mutual priority, we congratulate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for partnering with the FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation and arresting long-time wanted suspect, Osondu Victor Igwilo, for fraud conspiracy, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.”
