Global InformationObinwanne Okeke information
Obinwanne Okeke | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1987 |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Other names | Invictus Obi |
| Education | Monash University, Australia |
Obinwanne Okeke (born November 9, 1987) also known as Invictus Obi is a Nigerian entrepreneur and convicted fraudster who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in the United States for internet fraud that caused $11M losses to his victims.[1] After initially pleading guilty, on February 16, 2021, Okeke was sentenced to ten years in prison.[2] Until his arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation following a 13-month investigation, Okeke was a globally-renowned businessman who had investments in oil and gas, agriculture, private equity, alternative energy, telecom and real estate. He operated his holdings under the 'Invictus Group'.[3] Invictus Group operated in three African countries including Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.[4] He holds a master's degree in International business and Counter-terrorism from Monash University, Australia.[5]
On August 6, 2019, Okeke was arrested and charged with two counts of computer fraud and wire fraud.[6] According to the charges, he and his syndicates had defrauded American citizens up to $11m "through fraudulent wire transfer instructions in a massive, coordinated, business e-mail compromise scheme."[7] On August 7, he appeared before Michael Nachmanoff, a magistrate with the District Court of Eastern District of Virginia, to answer charges of wire fraud. He pled not guilty to the charges.[8] On October 9, 2019, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Nigeria ordered the temporary forfeiture of N280M (approximately $800,000) found in his personal and corporate accounts to the Federal Government of Nigeria for fear of its 'dissipation by his cronies' pending the outcome of his trial.[9]
Okeke's arrest was followed by the Department of Justice indictment of 80 other persons most of whom were Nigerian nationals.[10] According to the statement released on August 22, 2019, the Department of Justice said that those indicted used various online fraud schemes including business email compromise (BEC) frauds, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly, to defraud victims out of millions of dollars.[11] It called the fraud the "largest case of online fraud in US history".[12] According to the 145-page U.S. Department of Justice indictment, the victims lost or potentially lost $40 million.[13]
- ^ "Nigerian National Sentenced to Prison for $11 Million Global Fraud Scheme". www.justice.gov. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ "Nigerian Businessman Pleads Guilty to $11 Million Fraud Scheme". www.justice.gov. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- ^ Tobi Soniyi (18 August 2019). "$12m Wire Fraud: FBI Arrests Celebrated Young Nigerian Billionaire, Obinwanne Okeke". This Day. Lagos, Nigeria.
- ^ Ososanya, Tunde (17 August 2019). "Nigerians react to Forbes under 30 Obinwanne Okeke FBI fraud allegations". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "9 Facts about Forbes under 30 Nigerian Obinwanne Okeke enmeshed in fraud allegations". legit.ng – via MSN News.
- ^ Ogundipe, Samuel (29 August 2019). "Nigeria: Alleged $11 Million Fraud - Obinwanne Okeke Faces 30 Years in Jail". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Forbes-celebrated Nigerian pleads guilty to $11m fraud in U.S". www.msn.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Ogundipe, Samuel (29 August 2019). "Nigeria: Alleged $11 Million Fraud - Obinwanne Okeke Sentenced to 10Years in Prison". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Invictus Obi, US-Based Wire Fraud Suspect, Recants, to Plead Guilty to Computer Fraud". The Podium Media. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "First Invictus, now Jumia and 80 Nigerians". Businessday NG. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ "Massive International Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Detailed in Federal Grand Jury Indictment that Charges 80 Defendants". www.justice.gov. 22 August 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Hayden, Sally (4 October 2019). "Nigerian tech workers call on police to stop arresting, 'extorting' them". The Irish Times.
- ^ Massive International Fraud and Money Laundering Conspiracy Detailed in Federal Grand Jury Indictment that Charges 80 Defendants, August 22, 2019 – United States District Court for the Central District of California U.S. Attorney's Office