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Nigeria extradites suspected romance scam operator to US over $1.5 million fraud – Technology Times

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Investigators say the syndicate used fake online identities and fabricated dating profiles to build fraudulent emotional relationships with victims before manipulating them into transferring large sums of money under false pretences and staged emergencies. According to investigators, one victim allegedly lost more than $1.5 million to the operation.

Investigators say the syndicate used fake online identities and fabricated dating profiles to build fraudulent emotional relationships with victims before manipulating them into transferring large sums of money under false pretences and staged emergencies.

According to investigators, one victim allegedly lost more than $1.5 million to the operation.

INTERPOL Red Notice triggers Lagos airport arrest, Police says

Authorities arrested Ugberease on December 14, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly after he arrived on a flight from South Africa.

The arrest followed the issuance of an INTERPOL Red Notice, an international alert mechanism used to locate and provisionally detain wanted persons pending extradition proceedings.

The Nigeria Police say investigations revealed that the syndicate operated a layered financial structure designed to conceal the movement and origin of illicit funds.

“Further investigations established that proceeds of the fraud were laundered through multiple bank accounts used to receive, process, and conceal illicit funds,” the NPF says.

The case also exposed what investigators describe as a sophisticated international money laundering infrastructure linked to online romance fraud operations.

According to the United States Department of Justice, members of the network allegedly operated domestic financial nodes that controlled so-called “drop accounts” opened under fraudulent Georgia-based export companies.

Investigators say the accounts were used to obscure financial trails and rapidly transfer money through multiple banking channels before fraud detection systems could freeze the assets.

The structure allegedly enabled the syndicate to move funds from victims in the United States through commercial banking networks and eventually outside U.S. financial jurisdiction.

Romance scams: Nigeria intensifies global cybercrime crackdown

The case adds to a growing list of international cybercrime investigations involving Nigerian suspects and highlights expanding cooperation between Nigerian and foreign law enforcement agencies in tackling online fraud, financial crimes, and digital criminal networks.

In recent years, U.S. authorities have intensified investigations into romance scams, business email compromise schemes, wire fraud, and crypto-enabled financial crimes linked to transnational cybercrime groups.

The Nigeria Police Force says it is increasingly relying on INTERPOL intelligence systems, extradition agreements, and international policing partnerships to combat cybercrime and organised financial fraud.

Nigeria has also stepped up broader anti-cybercrime enforcement efforts.

Earlier in May 2026, Nigerian authorities extradited another foreign suspect wanted in connection with an alleged $245 million fraud investigation.

The Nigeria Police recently announced the repatriation of $23,000 recovered from an international romance scam operation involving a victim in the Cayman Islands, describing the recovery as part of its intelligence-led strategy against transnational cybercrime.

Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission deported 192 foreign nationals convicted of cyber-terrorism and internet fraud following major enforcement operations in Lagos linked to romance scams and cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes.

In March 2026, the EFCC also warned that illicit global cryptocurrency transactions exceeded $160 billion in 2025, underscoring growing international concern over digital financial crimes and crypto-enabled fraud networks.

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Imo senatorial aspirant, Nwachukwu drags NDC to court over ticket denial  

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A Senatorial Aspirant, Isaac Nwachukwu, has dragged Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court Sitting in Owerri, Imo State, over the fallout of the party’s National Assembly primaries.

Nwachukwu, in a suit filed through his Counsel, Cajethan Oguzie, accused the party of denying him the Imo North senatorial ticket after emerging a consensus candidate and paying N5m for the nomination form.

The suit also disclosed that Nwachukwu had paid N20m for the support of the party, but his support was unexplainably reduced to N10m when the list of those who supported the party was published.

The NDC Senatorial Aspirant, in his prayers before the court, demanded that a declaration should be made that he is the consensus candidate of the party in the state with regard to the Imo North Senatorial Zone in the 2027 General election.

“A declaration that the first defendant, NDC, be restrained from fielding another candidate except the plaintiff in the General election into the Imo North Senatorial Zone as he is the consensus candidate for the said election.

“A declaration that the second defendant, INEC, be perpetually restrained from recognising and accepting the candidacy of another person except the plaintiff in the Imo North Senatorial election pending the determination of the matter,” the suit stated.

In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, Nwachukwu stated that he purchased the expression of interest form to aspire for the position for Imo North senatorial zone, a copy of which is attached in the suit already filed.

The NDC Senatorial Aspirant added that upon the purchase of the form, he made a monetary contribution in support of the party’s growth in the tune of N20m into the party’s FCMB account number through his Counsel, receipt also attached in the suit as an exhibit.

“The first sign of irregularity and no compliance with the NDC constitution and electoral act came up when the N20m I paid for party support was allocated to one of the aspirants for my Senatorial District by the name Matthew Omegara, and the N10m that Matthew Omegara paid for party support was allocated to me by the Screening Committee headed by Sam Egwu and Buba Galadimma.

” In compliance with NDC’s directives, I participated in the NDC screening exercise and was successfully cleared as an aspirant to participate in the primary election.

After my consensus candidacy was ratified, my name was shortlisted as a Candidate for Imo North district. A copy of the result is hereby annexed as Exhibit 1U5,” the affidavit added.

Nwachukwu alleged that his name was substituted with Omegara after he had been declared the winner of the primary election.

The Imo North Senatorial Aspirant claimed that the National leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, had summoned him for a meeting telling him that his candidacy was affected after a party chieftain from his state said he didn’t know him.

Among other demands, Nwachukwu is asking the court to order NDC to issue him a certificate as its candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District.

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ADC raises alarm over alleged membership forgery in Zamfara

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Supporters and members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Anka and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas of Zamfara State have alleged attempts to manipulate the party’s membership records and card numbers ahead of internal political activities.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Gusau by Nura Rabiu Cibiki, Director of Media and Strategy, Campaign and Mobilisation Committee for Abdulrahaman Yahaya, an aspirant for the House of Representatives seat representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency.

The group warned against any attempt to alter or duplicate legitimate membership figures, saying such actions could deepen tensions within the party in the constituency.

“We strongly oppose any move to manipulate or duplicate legitimate membership figures, warning that such actions would only worsen existing tensions within the party and the Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency,” the statement said.

The supporters maintained that ADC members in Anka and Talata Mafara were aware of the party’s authentic membership strength and were prepared to protect the integrity of the party’s records.

The statement added that while justice may be delayed, the truth could not be denied.

Meanwhile, Yahaya has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau challenging alleged irregularities in the party’s primary election process in the constituency.

The court has fixed June 23, 2026, for mention of the case.

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