The FBI has launched a crackdown on a Lagos fraudster accused of stealing over ₦460 million in cryptocurrency meant for Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration.
Ehiremen Aigbokhan, based in Lagos, allegedly led a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam impersonating officials from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Using fake emails mimicking Steve Witkoff, a co-chair of the event, they tricked a donor into transferring 250,300 USDT.ETH, valued at more than ₦400 million in late 2024. The stolen crypto was quickly moved through multiple digital wallets to evade detection.
The FBI, working with Tether, identified the fraud and froze the accounts on December 31, 2024. They traced the operation back to Aigbokhan in Lagos, sparking a full investigation. He is also wanted for other cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering activities.
The FBI’s ongoing probe signals tougher enforcement against cross-border crypto fraud, a concern for Nigeria’s tech and financial sectors as they expand. More arrests or asset seizures could follow as the investigation continues. This story serves as a warning to donors and investors to verify digital transactions carefully.
