The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrimes Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested seven suspects over alleged money laundering, business email compromise, sextortion, blackmail, romance scams and other internet-related offences.
Akaninyene Ezima, assistant inspector-general of police (AIG) in charge of the centre, disclosed the arrests on Wednesday at a news conference in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), one of the suspects was arrested after Germany’s Federal Police, the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), requested the preservation of data linked to an internet protocol (IP) address allegedly used in a sophisticated business email compromise operation.
Ezima said the investigation, codenamed “Operation Broken Mask”, was conducted with the BKA and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) under the Budapest Convention 24/7 Network.
He said the suspect was arrested on July 20 at his residence in Megamound Estate, Lekki, Lagos, after investigative processes allegedly linked him to the operation.
Forensic examination of devices recovered from the residence reportedly uncovered more than 12.5 million email logs belonging to victims in more than 50 countries.
The suspect’s bank verification number (BVN) was allegedly linked to accounts with six financial institutions and fintech platforms, while police also recovered a Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 allegedly bought with proceeds of crime.
Ezima said the suspect allegedly used phishing kits obtained through Telegram to compromise Microsoft 365 credentials belonging to employees of targeted companies. He 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.
Police uncover alleged N3.6bn crypto transactions
The AIG also disclosed the arrest of a technology company owner over alleged international cyber-enabled investment fraud and money laundering.
He said the suspect was arrested following a petition filed by Ugwu Francisca & Co. on behalf of Elizabeth and Prince Iruaregbon.
The petition alleged that the complainants lost N56.3 million after being induced to invest in a WhatsApp-based stock trading platform that promised high returns.
According to Ezima, investigators traced the funds to accounts operated by entities allegedly linked to the syndicate.
He said the suspect’s technology company allegedly served as a channel for converting proceeds from the fraud.
An examination of the company’s account with Save Heaven Microfinance Bank reportedly showed terminal cash-out inflows and outflows of N3.2 billion between October 30, 2025, and May 31, 2026.
Investigators also found that about N3.6 billion in suspected proceeds of crime was allegedly converted into Tether (USDT) stablecoins through Bybit peer-to-peer transactions.
Ezima said the suspect was arrested on August 13 in Agiliti, Lagos, and allegedly admitted to owning Kestart Technology and engaging in peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading on Bybit.
Two arrested over alleged impersonation
The NPF-NCCC also arrested two suspects in Anambra over alleged conspiracy, identity theft, impersonation and computer-related fraud.
Ezima said the investigation followed a complaint by Faruk Yabo, permanent secretary at the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, who alleged that an individual was impersonating him on WhatsApp and Facebook.
The suspects were arrested on August 4 following technical intelligence and other investigative activities, he said.
Police reportedly recovered 24 registered and 33 unregistered MTN SIM cards, alongside 26 registered and 18 unregistered Airtel SIM cards and an MTN toolkit.
Ezima said one of the suspects admitted to buying and selling registered and unregistered SIM cards and creating a social media account in the identity of a UK citizen, which was allegedly used to defraud people in India.
The police said the arrests form part of ongoing efforts by the NPF-NCCC to disrupt cybercrime networks operating in Nigeria and across international borders.
