The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 17, 2024, handed over $22,000 recovered from convicted internet fraudster Hakeem Ayotunde Olanrewaju to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in Lagos. Olanrewaju, sentenced to two years imprisonment for identity theft and impersonation, was ordered by Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos on August 15, 2023, to have the recovered funds restituted to his U.S. victim.
During the handover ceremony, Acting Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Command, Michael T. Wetkas, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to combating crime and restoring order. “We are delighted to be handing over this proceeds of crime today. The EFCC is willing and always ready to do more,” he stated.
FBI Legal Attaché Charles Smith commended the EFCC for its cooperation and effectiveness in recovering funds from Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes. “This type of crime cripples businesses in the US, and for them to recover the money within one to two years gives hope to the affected companies and brings some level of justice,” Smith remarked. He expressed hopes for continued collaboration between the EFCC and FBI.
The event was attended by key officials from both agencies, including EFCC’s Head of Public Affairs, DCE Ayo Oyewole, Head of Investigation, ACE I Deborah Oni, and Head of Advance Fee Fraud 1, CSE Alex Ogbole, alongside FBI representatives Assistant Legal Attaché Michael Thomas and Foreign Service Investigator Ayo Solademi.
