Obinwanne Okeke, a Nigerian business mogul and Forbes Africa 30 under 30 honoree on Tuesday was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by a United States court for a computer-based intrusion fraud scheme.

Okeke, popularly known as Invictus Obi, was found guilty of causing approximately $11 million in known losses to his victims between 2015 and 2019.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to the crimes in June 2020.

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims.

Read Also: COURT DISMISSES SUIT CHALLENGING IGP ADAMU'S TENURE EXTENSION

“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes," said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Okeke, 33, operated a group of companies known as the Invictus Group based in Nigeria and elsewhere.

From approximately 2015 to 2019, Okeke and others engaged in a conspiracy to conduct various computer-based frauds, prosecutors said.

The conspirators obtained and compiled the credentials of hundreds of victims, including victims in the Eastern District of Virginia.

As part of the scheme, Okeke and other conspirators engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment. In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials.

The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices. Okeke participated in the effort to victimize Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totalling nearly $11 million, which was transferred overseas.

Additionally, Okeke engaged in other forms of cyber fraud, including sending phishing emails to capture email credentials, creating fraudulent web pages, and causing other losses to numerous victims.

Read Also: (VIDEO) MAN ACCUSE ONDO CHIEF JUDGE OF ABUSE OF POWER AND INTIMIDATION, CRIES FOR HELP

“The FBI will not allow cybercriminals free reign in the digital world to prey on U.S. companies,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office.

“This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners at the Department of Justice and our foreign counterparts to locate cybercriminals across the globe and bring them to the United States to be held accountable.”

Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

Before the judgement, family members, an employee, a pastor, and others related to the Nigerian business mogul had flooded a U.S. court with appeals for leniency ahead of his sentencing for wire fraud.

Recall, Okeke, before his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigations in August 2019, was listed as one of the influential young entrepreneurs recognised by Forbes.

He was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for his alleged involvement in defrauding American companies and individuals over a period of at least four years.

One of his victims, Unatrac, a subsidiary of American heavy equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, lost $11 million in spurious wire transfers, court documents showed.

Agents of the international security agency obtained an arrest warrant and intercepted the fraudster in the airport while returning to Nigeria after a brief visit to the U.S. in 2019.

However, after months of denying his involvement in the crime before a federal judge in the U.S. and argument of jurisdiction, he pleaded guilty to the allegation of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and agreed to cooperate with American authorities last year June.

Assessment

Nigeria, according to Transparency International’s 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), is the second most corrupt West African country, making it difficult for the citizens to be trusted in foreign lands. This has also soiled the reputation of the country.

Advisory

This is a wake-up call to Nigerians home and abroad to always engage in legitimate activities that will not tarnish the image of the country and help build a great and corruption free nation.