The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has uncovered a cyber fraud scheme allegedly carried out by a Lagos-based Nigerian man, Ehiremen Aigbokhan.
He is accused of diverting over N460 million meant for the 2025 inauguration of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to an FBI intelligence briefing, the cyberattack took place on December 26, 2024, through a Business Email Compromise (BEC) that targeted a key logistics partner involved in the event’s organization.
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The attacker reportedly manipulated email correspondences to authorize the illegal transfer of 250,300 USDT.ETH a cryptocurrency tied to the Ethereum blockchain—equivalent to over N400 million at the time.
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Aigbokhan allegedly posed as a senior official coordinating the inauguration to deceive organizers into transferring the funds.
In a statement issued on Friday, the FBI said, “Forensic analysis traced the origin of the emails and blockchain wallet activity to multiple IP addresses located in Lagos, Nigeria. The evidence we have gathered is both detailed and compelling.”
The bureau added that it has initiated a formal extradition request, noting that Aigbokhan will face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
A U.S. State Department official described the breach as “deeply troubling,” stressing that “international cybercrime requires urgent global cooperation, especially with increasing threats emerging from West Africa.”
This latest development has sparked renewed calls for Nigeria to bolster its cybersecurity defenses and collaborate more closely with global law enforcement agencies.
As investigations continue, Aigbokhan is now at the center of a manhunt involving both Nigerian authorities and U.S. federal agents.
