5 Nigerians Jailed in the US for Cybercrime

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking strong steps to fight cybercrime and car theft that crosses country borders.

Recently, in Abuja, his Special Adviser on Information Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made it clear that Nigeria will not be a place where illegally obtained money from other countries can hide. 

This order follows worldwide efforts to handle complex crimes and strengthen laws that support justice and security.

Here’s the list of 5 Nigerians facing jail terms for cybercrime:

Obinwanne Okeke

Once a celebrated entrepreneur, Obinwanne Okeke, also known as Invictus Obi, is now serving a ten-year sentence in a U.S. federal prison. His arrest in August 2019 followed charges related to an $11 million cyber fraud against a British company. Okeke had pleaded guilty, admitting to his role in fraudulent wire transfers orchestrated through phishing attacks.

Rahman Abbas (Hushpuppi)

Known on Instagram as Hushpuppi, Rahman Abbas is facing an 11-year sentence in the U.S. for his involvement in money laundering connected to various frauds. His criminal activities included attempts to defraud a US law firm of approximately $40 million and a scheme targeting a major English Premier League soccer club. The court also ordered him to pay restitution of over $1.7 million to the victims.

Abidemi Rufai

Abidemi Rufai, a former aide to Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, received a five-year sentence from a U.S. district court for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He exploited stolen identities to attempt theft of nearly $2.4 million, successfully obtaining $600,000 from U.S. government agencies through fraudulent claims, including pandemic-related benefits.

 Samuel and Samson Ogoshi

Brothers Samuel and Samson Ogoshi were sentenced to 17 and a half years in prison for their role in a tragic sextortion case that led to the suicide of 17-year-old Jordan DeMay. The brothers, exploiting social media, coerced DeMay into sending explicit images and then extorted him for money. Their threats and coercion contributed to his untimely death, marking a severe case of cyberbullying and online fraud.