U.S. Mission congratulates EFCC for arresting Igwilo, wanted by FBI

The United States Diplomatic Mission Nigeria has congratulated the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for apprehending a suspected international “catcher”, Osondu Igwilo, said to be on FBI’s wanted list.

Igwilo and three others – Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmaunel and John Anazo Achukwu – were arrested by the Nigerian financial crime agency on Thursday, March 11, 2022, over a $100 million fraud.

EFCC said in a statement that the 52-year-old Internet scammer had been on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 2018, before the EFCC operatives swooped on him.

He was arrested alongside the three others at a studio in the Sangotedo, Ajah, area of Lagos State, for an alleged fraud, money laundering and identity theft to the tune of about $100 million.

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“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 EFCC said in the statement.

Reacting to the development, the United States Embassy, through its official Twitter page, U.S. Mission Nigeria, congratulated the EFCC for partnering with the FBI in pulling off the arrest. “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,” the U.S. Mission tweeted Monday.