US Govt Reacts As EFCC Arrests Suspect Wanted By The FBI

The United States government has reacted to the arrest of Osondu Igwilo, one of the wanted persons on the watchlist of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced Igwilo’s arrest on Monday along with some of his accomplices.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the development was confirmed by the spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, adding that Igwilo was the alleged leader of a criminal network of “catchers”.

Uwujaren noted that Igwilo was arrested alongside Okafor Nnamdi Chris, Nwodu Uchenna Emmanuel and John Anazo Achukwu at a studio in the Sangotedo area of Lagos.

Igwilo had been declared wanted since 2018.

The suspects were accused of fraud, money laundering, and identity theft to the tune of about $100millon.

It was gathered that the suspects allegedly perpetrated a scheme involving false promises of investment funding, impersonating United States bank officials in person and via the internet.

Reacting to the arrest, the American government on Monday through the US mission in Nigeria wrote on its Twitter account: “With Justice as our mutual priority, we congratulate @officialEFCC for partnering with the @FBI & arresting long-time wanted suspect Igwilo for fraud conspiracy, money laundering and aggravated identity theft.”

With Justice as our mutual priority, we congratulate @officialEFCC for partnering with the @FBI & arresting long-time wanted suspect Igwilo for fraud conspiracy, money laundering and aggravated identity theft. pic.twitter.com/iLTWuQ98MO

— U.S. Mission Nigeria (@USinNigeria) March 14, 2022

Meanwhile, no less than 559 former Boko Haram fighters have been freshly rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society through the federal government de-radicalization, rehabilitation, and reintegration (DRR) programme.

This is not the first time this will happen as Naija News understands that over 1,000 ex-Boko Haram fighters have gone through the programme.

The rehabilitation is part of the Operation Safe Corridor which allows repentant terrorists to be forgiven, trained, rehabilitated, and reintegrated into society and has been operational since 2015.

The latest batch of repentant terrorists had their graduation event on Sunday in Gombe State.