Odita Sunday 
Police Arrest Cybercrime Suspects Over ₦3.6bn Crypto Proceeds, ₦100m Email Scam, Sextortion
By Odita Sunday
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has arrested several suspects linked to alleged cyber-enabled fraud, identity theft, sextortion, money laundering, impersonation and other technology-related offences, with investigations uncovering more than ₦3.6 billion in suspected criminal proceeds converted into cryptocurrency.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, MNIPS, disclosed this on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during a press briefing at the NPF-NCCC Conference Hall.
According to Ezima, the operations were part of the Centre’s intelligence-led efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks and disrupt the financial channels through which criminal proceeds are moved and concealed.
He said the operations were carried out under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, with support from local and international law enforcement partners.
One of the major breakthroughs involved the arrest of David Adeyemi Temitope, alleged to be behind a sophisticated Business Email Compromise syndicate investigated under the codename Operation Broken Mask.
The investigation, conducted in collaboration with the German Federal Police, Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the Budapest Convention 24/7 Network, commenced after the BKA submitted a preservation request on February 17, 2026, concerning a flagged Internet Protocol address linked to the alleged operation.
Ezima said investigations, including subscriber checks and Bank Verification Number verification, led to the identification of David Adeyemi Temitope.
The suspect was subsequently arrested by NPF-NCCC operatives on July 20, 2026, at his residence in Megamound Estate, Lekki, Lagos.
A search of the premises led to the recovery of digital devices which, according to the police, yielded more than 12.5 million victim email logs involving victims in over 50 countries, including Canada, Germany, the United States, India, France and the Netherlands.
The police also discovered that the suspect’s Bank Verification Number was linked to accounts with six financial institutions and fintech platforms, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FairMoney, Carbon, OPay and PalmPay.
A Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43, suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime, was also recovered.
The police alleged that David Adeyemi Temitope obtained phishing kits from a vendor on Telegram and used them to compromise Microsoft 365 credentials belonging to employees of targeted companies.
The investigation further established, according to Ezima, that the suspect allegedly made more than ₦100 million from the criminal enterprise.
A prima facie case of Computer-Related Fraud, Business Email Compromise and Identity Theft has been established against him under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2024, with his arraignment expected before the Federal High Court after the court’s vacation.
In another major case, the Centre arrested Kelechi Sistus Ihekaire, sole proprietor of Kestart Technology, over an alleged international cyber-enabled investment fraud and money laundering operation.
The investigation followed a petition submitted on May 11, 2026, by Ugwu Francisca & Co. on behalf of Ms. Elizabeth Iruaregbon and Mr. Prince Iruaregbon.
The petition alleged criminal conspiracy, Advance Fee Fraud, Identity Theft and Money Laundering involving the loss of ₦56,293,744.00.
Ezima said the complainants were allegedly induced to participate in a fraudulent WhatsApp-based stock trading platform that promised high returns.
Between March 25 and April 22, 2026, the complainants reportedly transferred the money into accounts operated by the alleged syndicate before their withdrawal requests were blocked.
The funds were traced through JPM Enterprise Trading, Kuda Bank, which received ₦23.6 million; Ahmad Digital Business, Nomba MFB, which received ₦18.493 million; and JPM Pro Online Venture, VFD MFB/FalconPay, which received ₦14.2 million.
Investigators subsequently linked Kestart Technology to the alleged movement of proceeds.
A reconstruction of the company’s account with Save Heaven Microfinance Bank, Account No. 0110648352, covering October 30, 2025, to May 31, 2026, reportedly showed terminal cash-out inflows and outflows totalling ₦3,621,566,996.39.
The police said the transactions included direct inward transfers of ₦67,241,144 from Ahmad Digital Business and ₦11,315,200 from JPM Pro Online Venture.
Further investigation allegedly revealed that approximately ₦3.62 billion in suspected proceeds of crime was converted into Tether (USDT) stablecoins through Bybit Peer-to-Peer transactions.
Kelechi Sistus Ihekaire was arrested on August 13, 2026, at No. 5 Olaniyi Street, Agiliti, Lagos.
According to the police, the suspect admitted ownership of Kestart Technology and involvement in Peer-to-Peer cryptocurrency trading on Bybit.
The police said checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission and examination of a Save Heaven Microfinance Bank Board Resolution dated October 22, 2025, confirmed Ihekaire as the sole proprietor and sole operational signatory of Kestart Technology.
He is expected to be arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja, under relevant provisions of the Money Laundering Act, 2022, as amended; Cybercrimes Act, 2024, as amended; and Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006, as amended.
The NPF-NCCC also said it would pursue the final forfeiture of funds under lien in the Save Heaven Microfinance Bank account and associated cryptocurrency assets, with a view to facilitating victim restitution where applicable.
In Anambra State, the Centre arrested Emeka Egba Anthony, 28, and Ogboji Solomon Emeka, 29, over alleged conspiracy, identity theft, impersonation and computer-related fraud.
The investigation followed a complaint made by Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, through the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The complainant alleged that the holder of GSM Number 09129288116 had stolen his identity and was impersonating him on WhatsApp and Facebook.
The suspects were arrested on August 4, 2026, following technical intelligence and sustained investigation.
Police said 24 registered and 33 unregistered MTN SIM cards, 26 registered and 18 unregistered Airtel SIM cards, as well as one MTN toolkit, were recovered from Emeka Egba Anthony.
The suspect allegedly admitted operating as a registered toolkit operator with MTN and Airtel Telecommunications and engaging in the buying and selling of registered and unregistered SIM cards.
He also allegedly admitted creating a social media profile using the identity of “Catherine Harry,” purportedly a United Kingdom citizen, with the intention of defrauding individuals in India.
The police said he identified one “Alhaji”, who is currently at large, as the person who introduced him to the alleged fraudulent activity.
Ogboji Solomon Emeka, according to the police, admitted dealing in registered SIM cards sourced from one Haruna Mohammed, based in Kano State.
Both suspects are facing prima facie cases relating to identity theft and the trading of pre-registered SIM cards and are expected to be charged before the appropriate court.
The Centre also arrested Abdulwajeed Abdullahi, who allegedly operated online under the pseudonym “Captain Junaid”, over alleged sextortion, blackmail and online romance fraud.
The investigation began following a July 28, 2026 petition from a female complainant who alleged that the suspect established a romantic relationship with her after initially contacting her on TikTok on June 18, 2026.
The suspect allegedly moved the conversation to WhatsApp and subsequently induced the complainant to send intimate photographs and videos.
The police alleged that on July 18, the suspect demanded US$3,000 and threatened to release the intimate materials if payment was not made.
Investigators reportedly identified another victim who allegedly lost ₦3.5 million to the same “Captain Junaid” identity, while another female victim from Bauchi State allegedly paid US$1,500 under a purported foreign exchange trading arrangement.
Through Open-Source Intelligence and other investigative techniques, the police said the “Captain Junaid” account was traced to Abdulwajeed Abdullahi in Kano State.
He was arrested at his residence in Kano on August 4, 2026.
Forensic examination of devices recovered from him allegedly revealed intimate photographs and videos belonging to multiple females, as well as forged academic certificates and identity cards bearing his photograph but different names.
The suspect allegedly confessed to commencing romance scam activities in January 2026 and admitted operating the “Captain Junaid” identity to obtain money under false pretences.
He also allegedly admitted receiving ₦3.5 million from a victim and US$1,500 from another victim, while threatening the complainant with the release of her intimate photographs.
The police said Abdulwajeed Abdullahi further admitted using the identity, photographs and publicly available materials of one “Captain Abdullahi Rajhi,” a Saudi pilot, to create the false “Captain Junaid” persona.
In Abuja, the NPF-NCCC arrested Paulsurplus Yohanna, 40, from Paiko Local Government Area of Niger State, over the alleged theft and attempted sale of land title documents belonging to his former employer, a foreign national resident in Abuja.
Yohanna, an employee of the complainant, was arrested on August 13, 2026, at about 1 p.m., following intelligence received by the Centre.
Police said several land title documents allegedly belonging to his former employer were recovered from him.
Preliminary investigation showed that the suspect was disengaged from his employment in January 2026, while further investigation allegedly linked him to the sale of one of the properties in the Kagini area of Abuja after his dismissal.
The police also alleged that he duplicated the key to his former employer’s office, forged some land documents and sold a Toyota RAV4 belonging to his former employer for ₦25 million.
The Centre said efforts were ongoing to trace and recover proceeds of the alleged transactions and identify other properties and documents reportedly taken by the suspect.
The police also announced the arrest of Babatunde Olamilekan Idowu, aka CSP Bamiseye, over alleged impersonation, criminal conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences amounting to ₦17 million.
According to Ezima, one Abass Musibau Ajisafe, who wanted to lodge a petition against one Alhaji Oduggemi, allegedly provided details of the victim to Babatunde Olamilekan Idowu.
The suspect allegedly contacted the victim while impersonating a senior police officer serving at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FID), Abuja.
Other members of the alleged syndicate, who are currently at large, reportedly impersonated the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation during the operation.
The victim was allegedly defrauded of ₦17 million.
Following the complaint, Babatunde Olamilekan Idowu was arrested in Ekiti State and, according to the police, confessed to the alleged offences.
Ezima said the suspect had a history of police impersonation and was popularly known as “abora SARS” around the Ikorodu axis of Lagos and its environs.
The AIG warned persons impersonating police officers that their activities would eventually be uncovered.
He also urged members of the public to verify the identities of persons contacting them by telephone and claiming to be police officers.
POLICE WARN CYBERCRIMINALS
The AIG said the cases demonstrated the growing technical capacity of the NPF-NCCC in digital forensics, open-source intelligence, network analysis, financial investigation and cryptocurrency tracing.
He warned cybercriminals that the use of encrypted platforms, cryptocurrency and false identities would not guarantee their safety.
“The long arm of the law will catch up with you,” Ezima warned, stressing that the Centre was strengthening its investigative capabilities and international partnerships to identify, trace, arrest and prosecute cybercriminals.
He urged members of the public to exercise caution in online interactions, particularly with unsolicited romantic approaches and investment opportunities promising unrealistic or guaranteed returns.
He also advised Nigerians to protect sensitive personal information, including passwords, banking details and Bank Verification Numbers, and to verify suspicious links and online platforms before accessing them.
Ezima reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, to protecting citizens and disrupting criminal networks operating within Nigeria and across international borders.
He said the NPF-NCCC would continue to work with government institutions, financial institutions, technology companies and international law enforcement agencies to trace criminal proceeds, dismantle cybercrime networks and protect Nigerians from emerging digital threats.
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