Following the resounding arrest of Nigeria’s business icon Obinwanne Okeke, federal prosecutors at the United States Department of Justice said on Thursday that 80 people in the United States and Nigeria have stolen about $ 1.1 billion across the country. fraudulent schemes in seven months, reports the Washington Post.
“In the first seven months of this year, the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) online crime complaint centers have received nearly 14,000 complaints from victims reporting incidents of compromised e-mail ( BEC), with a total loss of $ 1.1 billion, “said Paul Delacourt, deputy director of the FBI in charge of the case.
In response to US Justice figures, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said on Friday that the Nigerian government would extradite some eighty Nigerians accused of defrauding in some parts of the states. United States of America.
“We recognize that the prosecution does not mean guilt, and we hope all defendants will be judged fairly and quickly. We also ask those accused in Nigeria to voluntarily visit the US authorities to clarify the situation. Otherwise, the Nigerian government should extradite them if the relevant international treaties between the two governments are invoked, “said the woman at the head of one of the most prolific African diasporas in remittances.
Another reaction is that of Ibrahim Magu, President of the Commission on Economic and Financial Crime. “It is very embarrassing to know that out of 80 alleged fraudsters, 70 are Nigerians,” he hinted, calling for a real strategy in the fight against cybercrime.
