By Kazeem Waris
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has dismantled suspected online investment fraud, romance scam and money laundering networks linked to more than $2 million in alleged international fraud, arresting eight suspects in coordinated operations across Delta and Lagos states.
The operations, conducted in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, targeted syndicates accused of using fake identities, fraudulent investment platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) voice cloning and deepfake technology to defraud victims in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other countries.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the NPF-NCCC, Akaniyene Ezima, disclosed the arrests while briefing journalists in Abuja on investigations into the alleged cybercrime networks.
He said the operations involved intelligence shared by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office, known as the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA).
According to Ezima, the investigations uncovered three separate cases involving fraudulent cryptocurrency investments, romance scams, online impersonation and the laundering of suspected criminal proceeds through digital wallets and international financial channels.
Four arrested over investment fraud
In the first case, Ezima said intelligence from the UK National Crime Agency indicated that social media accounts linked to a suspected transnational criminal network were being operated from locations in Delta State.
The network allegedly ran fraudulent investment schemes targeting victims in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and other jurisdictions.
Acting on the intelligence, NPF-NCCC operatives conducted investigations and digital forensic analysis that led to the arrest of four suspects in Agbor and Okpanam, Delta State, in October 2026.
The suspects were identified as Ojei Divine, Godwin Umerin, Edema Bright and Peter Kpamichukwu Okoh.
Ezima said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly used fabricated identities on social media and messaging platforms to gain victims’ confidence and direct them to fraudulent investment websites.
One of the suspects, Ojei Divine, allegedly impersonated professional investment traders through multiple Facebook accounts, including one bearing the name Mariana Coman.
He reportedly directed victims from online chat groups to websites presented as investment and trading platforms for foreign exchange, cryptocurrency and oil and gas.
According to the police, the websites included andescapitalgrouplc.com, navidargroupllc.com and stockbase.com.
Victims were allegedly persuaded to deposit funds into cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the suspect and other members of the suspected syndicate.
Ezima said the suspect admitted to moving proceeds from multiple wallet addresses associated with victims in different countries, including through Revolut and Trust Wallet for European victims and Coinbase for victims in the United States.
Cryptocurrency analysis of one wallet allegedly controlled by the suspect revealed 21 approved transaction receipts valued at $21,150. The police said cryptocurrency assets worth $15,900 had been recovered and secured in a custodial wallet.
Another suspect, Godwin Umerin, allegedly operated several Facebook accounts and admitted to using them to defraud an Indonesian citizen who paid seven million Indonesian rupiah through an account provided by a suspected money mule.
The police also accused Edema Bright, a 300-level student of Delta State University, of engaging in sextortion and cryptocurrency fraud targeting victims in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and other countries.
Ezima said the suspect allegedly used online hookup advertisements to attract victims through a WhatsApp account registered with a United States telephone number.
He also allegedly used the Clubhouse platform to persuade victims to invest in Bitcoin, claiming he could buy the cryptocurrency at lower prices and sell it at higher rates.
The police further alleged that Bright impersonated Michael Novogratz, chief executive officer of Galaxy Digital, using photographs sourced from Pinterest to conceal his identity.
The fourth suspect, Peter Kpamichukwu Okoh, 27, was described as a website developer who operated a web development business known as 360 Web Tech.
According to the police, Okoh advertised his services on Instagram and TikTok under the usernames 360 webtech and 360 webtech02.
Preliminary investigations allegedly showed that he developed websites for healthcare, investment and online banking services, including banking platforms designed to allow administrators to control deposits, withdrawals and other functions.
Ezima said Okoh admitted to developing six websites allegedly used by scammers to conduct fraudulent activities.
Items recovered during the operation included 36 mobile devices, three internet routers and other exhibits undergoing forensic examination.
The four suspects are expected to be arraigned after the completion of investigations and prosecutorial processes.
Two arrested over Canadian romance scam
In the second case, the police arrested two suspects over an alleged international romance fraud network that targeted elderly residents of Canada between 2020 and 2024.
Ezima said the investigation was launched following intelligence from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and was conducted in collaboration with the German Federal Criminal Police Office.
Investigators reportedly discovered that members of the suspected network used fictitious identities on social media and messaging platforms to establish romantic relationships with victims.
After gaining their confidence, the suspects allegedly solicited money under various pretexts, including business investments, financial assistance and loans, with promises of repayment.
In one case, a victim was allegedly deceived by a suspect impersonating a United States military physician identified as William Barabash.
The suspect reportedly provided the victim with login details for a fake banking website called CB Reserve Bank, which displayed a substantial balance under the impersonated identity.
The police said the victim subsequently transferred more than CA$200,000 between 2020 and 2022.
Investigations allegedly linked the transactions to Uka Chidiebere Gerald, 32, who, with his wife’s consent, used her email address and telephone number to open a Binance wallet through which funds were allegedly laundered.
The police identified the wife as Evelyn Ayabare.
According to Ezima, investigations linked the suspect to cryptocurrency transactions totalling 1,684,441 USDT.
In another case, a victim was allegedly induced to transfer cryptocurrency worth CA$214,000 and make an additional wire transfer of CA$3,000.
The digital assets were reportedly deposited into two Bitcoin wallet addresses traced to Kenneth Ufuophu, 30.
The police said the funds were subsequently laundered through suspected money mules and entities, including Tears of Joy Ltd in the United Kingdom and Henryford Services Inc.
Investigators also traced suspected financial movements across Canada, the United States, Nigeria, Turkey and Kenya.
So far, five victims have been identified, with documented losses suffered by two victims alone exceeding CA$417,000, according to the police.
Operatives traced aspects of the transactions to Nigeria, leading to the arrest of Gerald and Ufuophu in Delta State.
Two mobile devices and two laptops were recovered from the suspects and are undergoing forensic examination.
The police said investigations were continuing to identify other members of the suspected network, trace illicit funds and facilitate the recovery of proceeds of crime.
Three arrested over AI-powered impersonation
In the third case, the police arrested three suspects in Lekki, Lagos State, on October 14, 2026, over alleged computer-related fraud, online impersonation and fraudulent investment schemes targeting victims internationally.
The operation followed cyber threat intelligence shared by the United Kingdom National Crime Agency and was approved by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, according to Ezima.
The suspects were identified as Adebayo Adewale Basit, Omoregie Christian and Adebayo Ibrahim.
Preliminary investigations indicated that they allegedly operated fake social media accounts to impersonate celebrities and other prominent personalities to deceive victims into transferring money.
One of the suspects, Basit, 23, allegedly created email accounts bearing the names of Tesla chief executive Elon Musk and used Facebook, WhatsApp, Zangi, Telegram and X to communicate with victims.
The police alleged that he employed AI voice cloning and deepfake technology to impersonate Musk.
The activities reportedly targeted victims in the United States and United Kingdom.
Ezima said the suspects were also linked to an alleged cryptocurrency investment scheme operated through a platform identified as Bitcoin Trading Hub.
The police identified bitcointradinghub.org and the email address support@bitcointradinghub.org as part of the suspected operation.
According to the AIG, the suspects confessed to their alleged involvement during investigations.
Items recovered included five iPhones, a Samsung Galaxy phone, an iPad, a Microsoft Surface Pro tablet, three internet routers, a webcam, a PlayStation 5 console with two controllers, a portable uninterruptible power supply and other electronic accessories.
Police also recovered three gold-plated necklaces, two wristwatches, two vehicle registration plates, two suspected cannabis crushers, a digital precision scale and rolling papers.
The recovered electronic devices are undergoing forensic examination to establish the extent of the alleged criminal activities, identify victims, trace suspected proceeds and determine whether other accomplices were involved.
The three suspects remain in custody as investigations continue.
Police warn against online fraud
Ezima expressed concern over the exploitation of public trust through fraudulent investment schemes, deceptive online relationships, identity impersonation and the movement of suspected criminal proceeds through cryptocurrency and other financial channels.
He said tackling the growing threat required stronger intelligence gathering, advanced digital forensic capabilities and sustained cooperation among law enforcement agencies across national borders.
“The Nigeria Police Force recognises that effectively addressing these emerging threats requires more than reactive enforcement. It demands proactive, intelligence-led policing, advanced digital forensic capabilities, timely intelligence sharing and sustained international cooperation,” he said.
The AIG added that the NPF-NCCC would continue to strengthen its investigative and forensic capabilities, deepen partnerships with international law enforcement agencies and deploy technology to identify and dismantle criminal networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.
“Under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the NPF-NCCC will continue to strengthen its investigative and forensic capabilities, deepen strategic partnerships and deploy technology in identifying, disrupting and dismantling criminal networks operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders,” Ezima said.
The police said all suspects would be brought before a court upon the conclusion of investigations and the necessary prosecutorial processes.
