The U.S government has commended the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for arresting a Nigerian identified as Osondu Victor Igwilo who had been on the watch list of the U.S Federal Bureau of Intelligence for alleged $100 million fraud.
The U.S Mission in Nigeria via twitter, on Monday sent the commendatory statement to the EFCC immediately the anti-graft agency announced the arrest of the suspect.
“With Justice as our mutual priority, we congratulate @officialEFCC for partnering with the @FBI & arresting long-time wanted suspect Igwilo for fraud conspiracy, money laundering and aggravated identity theft,” U.S mission wrote.
In a statement on Monday, the EFCC announced the arrest of Osondu Victor Igwilo, at a studio in Lagos.
The suspect was arrested on Friday, alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel and John Anazo Achukwu.
According to the anti-graft agency, Igwilo has been on the FBI watch list since 2018.
“Before their arrest, Igwilo and his accomplices had allegedly been involved in an advance-fee scheme that involved false promises of investment funding by individuals who impersonated some United States of America, USA, bank officials in person and via the internet,” the anti-corruption agency said.
“Investigation 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.
“Consequently, Igwilo was placed on the FBI watch list, following a criminal complaint filed against him in the United States District Court, Houston, Texas in December 2016,” the statement added.
