By Tanko Mohammed
Prompted by his parents, 31-year-old Felix Osilama Okpoh, a Nigerian internet scammer declared wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has surrendered himself.
His parents, Col. Garuba Okpoh (retd.) and Mrs. Justina Okpoh, on September 18, 2020, took the Okpoh to the Lagos Zonal Office Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).
Okpoh, who hails from Edo state in Nigeria’s South South, told EFCC’s officials that he surrendered himself out of respect he had for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright.
A statement released by EFCC on September 22, 2020 in Abuja confirmed that Okpoh had been on the run since he was declared wanted by FBI in 2019.
FBI placed him and some of his accomplices on watch-list over $6 million fraud committed in the U.S.
FBI in 2019 placed Okpoh, and some other suspected Nigerian fraudsters in watch-list.
The other suspects still at large are Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode and Nnamdi Orson Benson.
FBI alleged that they were involved in a Business Email Compromise, BEC, scheme that defrauded over 70 businesses in the United States, of over $6,000,000.
Specifically, Okpoh allegedly provided over forty bank accounts to his conspirators, which were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers from their victims.
He was indicted in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 21, 2019.
According to FBI, (https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cyber/felix-osilama-okpoh) Okpoh allegedly provided hundreds of bank accounts to Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh and other co-conspirators, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, and Nnamdi Orson Benson, that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers.
“Bank accounts that Okpoh allegedly provided to Uzuh received fraudulent wire transfers from victim businesses totaling over $1,000,000 USD.
“On August 22, 2019, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest,’’ FBI said
