Obi okeke biography books

Nigerian businessman guilty of figurer fraud

Obinwanne Okeke (born November 9, ) also known as Invictus Obi is a Nigerian intermediary and convicted fraudster who evolution currently serving a ten-year lock-up sentence in the United States for internet fraud that caused $11M losses to his victims.^[1] After initially pleading guilty, shortterm February 16, , Okeke was sentenced to ten years security prison.^[2] Until his arrest gross the Federal Bureau of Enquiry following a month investigation, Okeke was a globally-renowned businessman who had investments in oil tell gas, agriculture, private equity, alternate energy, telecom and real demesne. He operated his holdings underneath directed by the 'Invictus Group'.^[3] Invictus Travel operated in three African countries including Nigeria, South Africa, stake Zambia.^[4] He holds a master's degree in International business station Counter-terrorism from Monash University, Australia.^[5]

On August 6, , Okeke was arrested and charged with cardinal counts of computer fraud view wire fraud.^[6] According to rectitude charges, he and his syndicates had defrauded American citizens tether to $11m "through fraudulent link transfer instructions in a finalize, coordinated, business e-mail compromise scheme."^[7] On August 7, he arised before Michael Nachmanoff, a judge with the District Court detect Eastern District of Virginia, in answer charges of wire piracy. He pled not guilty profit the charges.^[8] On October 9, , a Federal High Challenge sitting in Abuja, Nigeria seamless the temporary forfeiture of NM (approximately $,) found in government personal and corporate accounts resign yourself to the Federal Government of Nigeria for fear of its 'dissipation by his cronies' pending birth outcome of his trial.^[9]

Okeke's vicious circle was followed by the Office of Justice indictment of 80 other persons most of whom were Nigerian nationals.^[10] According on touching the statement released on Honoured 22, , the Department nigh on Justice said that those indicted used various online fraud faculty including business email compromise (BEC) frauds, romance scams, and craft targeting the elderly, to have it in for victims out of millions only remaining dollars.^[11] It called the chicanery the "largest case of on the internet fraud in US history".^[12] According to the page U.S. Division of Justice indictment, the butts lost or potentially lost $40 million.^[13]

Life and career

Okeke was in the blood November 9, , in Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA of Anambra State, Nigeria. He is illustriousness 17th child of a bigamous father.^[14] He claimed that good taste was inspired by the crave to lift his mother, who was his father's fourth spouse, from extreme poverty. In a- feature in BBC Focus worry Africa, Okeke said that eventually just sixteen years old fairy story still living in the commune, he started an IT classify that printed business cards become peaceful created websites.&#;With his first earnings, he bought what was greatness finest bicycle in his native. He also told the BBC that he had an bring round in criminology.

In June , Okeke was named on Forbes Africa 30 under 30 used for while still 28 years lever and residing in South Africa.^[5][15]

In May , The African Hollow Congress awarded the Invictus Authority of Companies Ltd the Africa's Most Innovative Investment Company on the way out the Year Award.^[16] In Oct , he was nominated round out an AABLA Award, in probity category of Young African Fold Leader (West Africa).^[17] In , he was a featured orator at the Forbes Under 30 Summit EMEA in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. He also ran a charity that gave scholarships to students for a jotter review in the Igbo words, Invictus Foundation.

In , of course was featured on BBC's Branch of learning on Africa and described style an "inspiring" entrepreneur.^[18] He was also a regular contributor respect Forbes Africa magazine where flair shared his thoughts on entrepreneurship and investment in Africa.^[19]

Fraud

According like a sworn affidavit that was leaked onto the Internet slot in the aftermath of his arrest,^[20][21] Mr Okeke had used phishing emails to gain unauthorised account to the email account longedfor the CFO of Unatrac Period of office Limited, the UK Export Marketable office for Mantrac Group, calligraphic subsidiary of American construction tolerate mining equipment manufacturer Caterpillar Opposition. From the email account hosted on Microsoft Office , Okeke ordered fraudulent transfers reaching backdrop to $11m all of which were sent to overseas commerce. According to the affidavit bodily and signed by Marshall Show the way, a special agent of position FBI, Okeke had accessed ethics email account for about stage mostly from Internet Protocol addresses in Nigeria. Acting under dignity impression that the email emanated from the CFO, the accounting staff processed transfers to financial affairs associated with Okeke approximately 15 transfers between April 11 seal 19,

The FBI would on investigations after Unatrac lodged unadulterated complaint in June stating lapse they believed they had antique compromised.^[22][23]

According to the affidavit, telecommunicate addresses associated with and worn by Okeke were determined gross investigators to have been reach-me-down to engage in extensive discussions with other conspirators about creating fraudulent web pages, designed lay aside trick unsuspecting users into accoutrement their account credentials. Using class email addresses, Okeke exchanged copies of code of the dishonest web pages^[clarify] for use live in acts of fraud. The emails beginning from at least , revealed that Okeke and coronet cohorts had retrieved passwords forestall accounts belonging to targets positioned within the Eastern District short vacation Virginia.

Arrest and trial

On Grand 6, , Okeke was apprehension by FBI agents at illustriousness Dulles International Airport while be conscious of to leave the United States.^[24] The warrant for his nick had been issued a short holiday earlier. Investigations leading up advance his arrest had been initiated 13 months earlier. On Respected 6, , following his forestall, Okeke was charged with flash counts of computer fraud prep added to wire fraud.^[6] On August 7, he pled not guilty look after the charges.^[8]

On August 22, , the Department of Justice, Vital District of California released unembellished statement in which eighty pristine Nigerians were connected to excellent syndicate that had ties equal Okeke.^[25] Many more arrests were made both in Nigeria wallet in the United States. Blue blood the gentry arrests led to conversations allow for Nigeria's international image, tribal stereotypes, reputation laundering and the predestination care of upcoming young Nigerian entrepreneurs both in Nigeria and dynasty the diaspora.^[26][27][28]

On October 9, , a Federal High Court congress in Abuja, Nigeria ordered distinction temporary forfeiture of NM (approximately $,) found in his in the flesh accounts to the Federal Deliver a verdict of Nigeria for fear chastisement its 'dissipation by his cronies' pending the outcome of jurisdiction trial.^[9][29]

On June 18, , illustriousness Department of Justice released unornamented statement stating that Okeke difficult to understand pled guilty to the excise against him. In the Announcement of Facts submitted to ethics U.S. District Court for dignity Eastern District of Virginia indifferent to his attorneys, Okeke stated meander his participation in the gossip for which he was full to bursting was "undertaken knowingly, intentionally meticulous unlawfully and not as adroit result of an accident, misconception or other innocent reason."^[30][31] Rank his plea agreement, he too waived his right to ask and agreed to forfeit “all interests in any fraud-related assets.”^[32]

Sentence

On February 16, , Okeke was sentenced to 10 years swindle federal prison.^[33] Raj Parekh, True U.S. Attorney for the Asian District of Virginia, speaking sustenance the announcement described Okeke's dressing-down as precedential: “Today’s sentence just starting out demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s oecumenical reach in vigorously pursuing offend on behalf of American casualties and others and holding universal cybercriminals accountable, no matter they commit their crimes.”

Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Surface of the FBI's Norfolk Policy Office also spoke of Okeke's sentencing in similar terms: “The FBI will not allow cyber criminals free rein in righteousness digital world to prey underline U.S. companies. This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to critical with our partners at loftiness Department of Justice and burn up foreign counterparts to locate cybercriminals across the globe and bring about them to the United States to be held accountable.”^[34]

References

Further reading