The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has filed a civil forfeiture complaint and is actively pursuing the arrest of Ehiremen Aigbokhan, a Lagos-based internet fraudster accused of stealing over ₦460 million (approximately $300,000) in funds intended for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
According to court documents obtained by multiple news outlets, Aigbokhan and his co-conspirators orchestrated a sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme. In the weeks leading up to the January 20, 2025 inauguration, the fraudsters created fake email addresses closely mimicking legitimate ones used by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. For example, they used the domain @t47lnaugural.com to impersonate the official @t47inaugural.com email of Steve Wiktoff, co-chair of the committee.
The scammers sent fraudulent donation requests to unsuspecting victims, tricking them into transferring cryptocurrency to wallets controlled by Aigbokhan and his team. One victim reportedly sent 250,300 USDT.ETH, a cryptocurrency token, to the fraudsters. The perpetrators quickly moved the funds across multiple crypto wallets to evade detection.
The FBI, upon uncovering the scheme, collaborated with cryptocurrency operator Tether to freeze the implicated accounts and has initiated legal proceedings to seize Aigbokhan’s property. The agency is also seeking an arrest warrant for the 28-year-old Nigerian national, who remains at large in Lagos.
This case highlights the increasing sophistication of Nigerian cybercriminals, who have evolved from traditional “419” scams to high-stakes, technologically advanced fraud operations targeting global political events. It also underscores the growing international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
The FBI’s action has drawn attention to Nigeria’s ongoing challenges with internet fraud, often associated with the notorious “Yahoo Boys.” Authorities worldwide continue to intensify efforts to track and prosecute such criminals to protect victims and uphold the rule of law.
As investigations continue, the world watches closely to see how justice will be served in this landmark case involving cross-border cyber fraud and political fundraising.
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