The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested seven suspects allegedly involved in separate cases of cybercrime, money laundering, business email compromise, investment fraud, identity theft and other internet-related offences.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Akaninyene Ezima, who heads the centre, disclosed this on Wednesday at a media briefing in Abuja.
Ezima said the arrests were the outcome of several investigations, including an international operation involving the German Federal Police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
He said one of the suspects was identified after Germany’s Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) asked Nigerian authorities to preserve data linked to an IP address allegedly used in a business email compromise operation.
The investigation, code-named “Operation Broken Mask”, was conducted through the Budapest Convention 24/7 Network, according to the AIG.
Ezima said the suspect was arrested on July 20 at his residence in Megamound Estate, Lekki, Lagos, after investigative findings allegedly connected him to the scheme.
A forensic examination of electronic devices recovered from the residence reportedly uncovered more than 12.5 million email logs belonging to victims in over 50 countries.
The suspect’s Bank Verification Number was also allegedly linked to accounts with six banks and fintech platforms, while police recovered a Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of crime.
Ezima alleged that the suspect deployed phishing kits obtained through Telegram to steal Microsoft 365 login credentials of employees working for targeted companies.
He said the suspect allegedly made more than N100 million from the operation.
“The suspect’s bank verification number was linked to accounts maintained with six financial institutions and fintech platforms, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Zenith Bank, FairMoney, Carbon, OPay and PalmPay,” he said.
In another case, police arrested the owner of a technology company over an alleged international investment fraud and money-laundering operation.
The arrest followed a petition filed by Ugwu Francisca & Co. on behalf of Elizabeth and Prince Iruaregbon, the AIG said.
The petition alleged that the complainants were defrauded of N56.3 million after being induced to invest through a WhatsApp-based stock trading platform that promised high returns.
Ezima said investigators traced the funds to accounts allegedly operated by individuals and companies connected to the suspected fraud network.
He further alleged that the technology company owned by the suspect was used to facilitate the conversion and movement of the proceeds.
An examination of the company’s account with Save Heaven Microfinance Bank allegedly revealed cash inflows and outflows totalling N3.2 billion between October 30, 2025 and May 31, 2026.
According to the police, about N3.6 billion in suspected proceeds of crime was subsequently converted into Tether (USDT), a stablecoin, through peer-to-peer transactions on the Bybit cryptocurrency platform.
The suspect was arrested on August 13 in Agiliti, Lagos.
Ezima said the suspect allegedly admitted owning Kestart Technology and engaging in peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading on Bybit.
The police chief also disclosed the arrest of two suspects in Anambra State over alleged conspiracy, identity theft, impersonation and computer-related fraud.
He said the investigation followed a complaint by Faruk Yabo, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, who reported that someone was allegedly impersonating him on WhatsApp and Facebook.
The suspects were arrested on August 4 following technical intelligence and other investigative efforts, Ezima said.
Items recovered from them included 24 registered and 33 unregistered MTN SIM cards, 26 registered and 18 unregistered Airtel SIM cards, and an MTN toolkit.
According to the AIG, one of the suspects admitted purchasing and selling registered and unregistered SIM cards.
He also allegedly admitted creating a social media account in the name of a United Kingdom citizen and using the account to defraud victims in India.
Ezima said investigations into the cases were continuing, with the suspects expected to face prosecution after the completion of investigations and other required legal procedures.
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