The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a suspected international “Catcher” on the watch list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.
The suspect identified as Osondu Victor Igwilo, 52, who had been on the FBI watch list since 2018 was arrested last Thursday in Lagos.
According to the EFCC, Igwilo was arrested for alleged fraud, money laundering and identity theft to the tune of about $100m.
This was disclosed in a statement titled, ‘EFCC Arrests Suspected International “Catcher” On FBI List, Osondu Igwilo, Three Others for $100m Fraud,’ issued on Monday.
The anti-graft Agency said, “It was the end of road, on Thursday, March 11, 2022 for one Osondu Victor Igwilo, who had been on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, since 2018, when operatives of the EFCC, Lagos Command, swooped on him.
“Fifty-two year-old Igwilo, who is the alleged leader of a criminal network of “ catchers’’ was arrested alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmaunel and John Anazo Achukwu at a studio in the Sangotedo area of Lagos for an alleged fraud, money laundering and identity theft to the tune of about $100m.
“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.”