LAGOS, Nigeria — Two suspects, Saidu Adam Usman and Yusuf Umar, have been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force for their alleged involvement in a major fraudulent operation that facilitated over N400 million in fraudulent transactions.
The duo, among the 82 suspects arrested in January for cyber-related crimes, is accused of creating and distributing compromised financial accounts to execute their scam. The suspects allegedly used pre-registered SIM cards and email addresses to set up Moniepoint profiles. They then distributed these profiles to local accomplices across Nigeria, instructing them to undergo Know Your Customer (KYC) verification. During this process, the suspects reportedly fraudulently obtained Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and other personal details from individuals.
Once the KYC process was completed, the suspects would change the passwords to secure the profiles for an undisclosed foreign contractor.
In addition to Adam and Umar, the Nigeria Police Force also reported the arrest of Rabiu Aliyu Salisu—also known as Rabo—who allegedly defrauded an American national of $597,000 by assuming the identity of an American citizen named Matthew Ramsey. Salisu is facing charges related to identity theft, computer fraud, and money laundering.
In further operations, the police also apprehended Idowu Smart Emmanuel, who was involved in cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and false allegations. He eventually admitted to fabricating the allegations after being arrested for criminal defamation.
The Nigeria Police’s National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) continues to be a critical part of the country’s ongoing crackdown on cybercrimes. In a statement, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, highlighted the commitment of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun to countering cybercrime and ensuring that individuals involved in such illegal activities face full legal consequences.
The Nigeria Police also cautioned the public to exercise caution when engaging in online transactions and emphasized the importance of verifying the legitimacy of financial operators before making large-scale transactions.
