Internet Fraud Kingpin Nabbed In Asaba

Officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC have arrested two men, Arinze Ihekwo described as Internet Fraud Kingpin and Chinemelu Utaku, who are believed to be members of a syndicate involved in Internet fraud.

According to a statement released by the spokesperson of EFCC, both men are to be arraigned on a 13-count charge bordering on alleged Internet fraud, Email hacking and obtaining money by false pretence before the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State.


One of the counts of the charge reads: ‘‘That you Arinze Ihekwo( alias Ihekwo Arinze Christain) on or about November 1, 2013 in Asaba within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court retained the sum of $34,020.00( Thirty-Four Thousand and Twenty United States of America Dollars) only in your current account number:0046750454 domiciled at Guaranty Trust Bank which sum you reasonably ought to have known represent proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15( 2) (d) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.’’

EFCC launched investigation into their activities following a petition by the Department of State Service, DSS.

The Service informed EFCC that one Clifford Okemmuo had, in a separate investigation, disclosed that Ihekwo,( a.k.a. Christian Ihekwo Arinze), belongs to a syndicate that specializes in cloning unsuspecting victims’ emails in order to trap their financial- related transactions.