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Nigerian Convicted in US Over $7.5m Cyber Fraud Targeting Charities

Published

1 month ago

December 20, 2025

Nigerian Convicted in US Over $7.5m Cyber Fraud Targeting Charities

A United States federal court has convicted a Nigerian national, Olusegu Adejorin, for defrauding two charitable organisations of more than $7.5 million, an offence that could see him sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Adejorin, 32, was found guilty after a six-day trial at a Maryland federal court, according to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

He was convicted on multiple counts, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorised access to a protected computer.

The DOJ disclosed that Adejorin was extradited from Ghana in connection with the case, which involved cyber-enabled fraud targeting charities based in Maryland and New York between June and August 2020.

Investigators revealed that Adejorin gained access to employee email accounts, impersonated staff members, and manipulated internal financial procedures to divert funds away from the organisations.

According to the DOJ, Adejorin created spoofed domain names to pose as employees of one charity while requesting withdrawals from the other. He also compromised email systems to falsely authenticate the transactions, resulting in the transfer of over $7.5 million into accounts unconnected to the charities.

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“After a six-day trial, a federal jury convicted Olusegun Samson Adejorin, 32, a Nigerian national, of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access to a protected computer,” the Justice Department stated.

U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, alongside FBI Baltimore Field Office Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for its investigation, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Rosenthal and Darren S. Gardner, who prosecuted the case.

The DOJ said Adejorin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for each of the five counts of wire fraud, up to five years for unauthorised access to a protected computer, and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft, to run consecutively.

U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has scheduled sentencing for April 10, 2026.

The department noted that while the law prescribes maximum penalties, actual sentences are determined using the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory considerations.

The prosecution was conducted under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement and combating organised and violent crime.

Nigerian Convicted in US Over $7.5m Cyber Fraud Targeting Charities

Related Topics:convicted cyber fraud Nigerian

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EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate Over Alleged ₦206m Fraud

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate Over Alleged ₦206m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Sarumi Samusudeen Babafemi, an associate of social media personality Ismaila Mustapha (Mompha), alongside three corporate entities, over an alleged ₦206 million fraud before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.

Babafemi — Managing Director and CEO of 606 Autos Limited, 606 Music Limited, and Splash Off Entertainment Limited — faces five counts of conspiracy, concealment, and transfer of proceeds of crime, allegedly committed between 2013 and 2018. The EFCC claims the offences involved large sums, including ₦37.6 million and ₦93 million transferred to third parties, with knowledge that the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts.

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When the charges were read, Babafemi pleaded not guilty. His defence lawyer, SAN Kunle Adegoke, filed a bail application, which the court granted, ordering that Babafemi be released to his counsel upon signing an affidavit of undertaking to appear in court. The trial is now scheduled to commence on March 24, 2026.

The EFCC said Babafemi acted in concert with Mompha and other co-accused — Ridwan Momodu Allison (Osama) and Richard Ugbah, who are currently at large — to facilitate the alleged money laundering scheme. This latest prosecution comes as part of broader EFCC efforts to tackle financial crimes and fraud networks linked to high-profile figures in Nigeria.

EFCC Arraigns Mompha’s Associate Over Alleged ₦206m Fraud

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Police U-Turn: Worshippers Abducted in Kaduna, Security Forces Deployed

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Police U-Turn: Worshippers Abducted in Kaduna, Security Forces Deployed

The Nigeria Police Force has officially confirmed that worshippers were abducted during attacks on churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna State, after initially denying the reports. The reversal comes as security agencies deploy tactical units to rescue the victims and secure the area.

Eyewitnesses and local sources say armed gunmen stormed multiple churches, including ECWA and Cherubim and Seraphim, during Sunday services, seizing dozens of worshippers. Community leaders report that over 170 people may have been abducted, with some survivors managing to escape.

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The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other local bodies have condemned the attacks and called for an urgent and thorough rescue operation. Authorities say they are intensifying efforts to locate and safely recover the victims, amid growing national concern over mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria.

The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in Kaduna State and other northern and central regions, where armed gangs and kidnappers frequently target vulnerable communities, often for ransom or political leverage. Families of the abducted worshippers continue to appeal for swift action as the rescue operations proceed.

Police U-Turn: Worshippers Abducted in Kaduna, Security Forces Deployed

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Presidency Accuses IPOB of Spreading False Christian Genocide Claims in Nigeria

Published

3 hours ago

January 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu

Presidency Accuses IPOB of Spreading False Christian Genocide Claims in Nigeria

The Presidency of Nigeria has accused the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) of deliberately spreading false claims of a Christian genocide, saying the narrative is being amplified to mislead international opinion and influence foreign policy. Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser on Policy Communication to President Bola Tinubu, described the reports as propaganda lacking verification and stressed that they do not reflect the reality of Nigeria’s security situation.

Bwala’s remarks follow widespread reports linking the so-called genocide narrative to statements from IPOB and affiliated actors, which have circulated on social media and attracted attention from international media and some foreign lawmakers. According to the Presidency, these claims oversimplify Nigeria’s complex security challenges, which include terrorism, banditry, and communal violence, rather than targeted religious persecution.

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The controversy has drawn U.S. congressional attention, with some lawmakers reportedly considering diplomatic responses. In response, the Nigerian Government has engaged U.S.-based lobbyists to highlight its efforts in protecting all citizens, regardless of faith, and to correct misleading narratives surrounding violence in the country.

Religious and civic leaders in Nigeria remain divided. While some dismiss the genocide claims as exaggerated and potentially divisive, others acknowledge violence against Christians but caution that framing it as genocide misrepresents the broader security context. Analysts warn that the debate over religious persecution and misinformation has significant implications for national unity, international perception, and Nigeria’s foreign relations.