05 July, 2025
A Nigerian national, Ehiremen Aigbokhan, has been declared wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in connection with a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme that allegedly diverted over N460 million meant for former President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
The incident, which occurred on December 26, 2024, involved a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam. According to the FBI, the perpetrators used deceptive email tactics to trick stakeholders into transferring 250,300 USDT.ETH, a cryptocurrency pegged to the dollar and running on the Ethereum blockchain. The stolen funds were valued at over N400 million at the time of the transaction.
Investigators believe the fraudster impersonated a top official connected to the inauguration’s logistics team to gain access and redirect the funds.
Following extensive digital forensics and blockchain tracking, FBI analysts traced the transaction origins to Nigeria, identifying Lagos as the key operational hub based on IP address activity and wallet movement.
Ehiremen Aigbokhan is now at the center of a global manhunt, with U.S. authorities officially requesting his arrest and extradition. He faces multiple charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
A senior U.S. official described the case as “alarming,” adding that it reflects a growing challenge in the global fight against cybercrime.
“This case underscores the importance of stronger international cooperation, especially with West African countries, to disrupt the networks enabling these transnational crimes,” the official said.
Cybersecurity experts in Nigeria have called for better domestic oversight of cryptocurrency platforms and stricter enforcement to deter similar scams.
“If Nigeria wants to maintain credibility in the global tech space, we must tackle these crimes from within and show that we’re serious about cybercrime enforcement,” said a cybersecurity analyst based in Abuja.
The FBI is working with Nigerian law enforcement agencies to track and apprehend Aigbokhan, as efforts continue to recover the diverted funds and bring those involved to justice.
