Abuja: The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora has given more insight into the circumstances surrounding the arrest of a Nigerian, Mr Okufolajimi Abegunde in US since June 25, 2018 despite the fact that there was no official correspondence to the effect from the family.
Hon Dabiri-Erewa in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, stated that a US department of Justice has since June 2018 arrested and charged eight people including Mr Abegunde for cybercrime and business email compromise conspiracy.
The accused were alleged to have defrauded some US Companies and individuals to the tune of $15 Million USD.
However, Okufolajimi Abegunde claimed innocence, saying his address was used by a friend of his, Ayodeji Ojo, who was apparently been previously charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and is currently at large.
Mr Abegunde along with the 7 others, currently have a criminal case against them in the US, had his detention hearing on June 25th.
The statement further said a letter was written to the West Tennessee Detention Facility in Mason, Tennessee where Abegunde is detained, by Nigerian consulate in Atlanta when the consulate became aware of the detention of Mr Abegunde, who claimed innocence, requesting consular access
The consulate in Atlanta is said to be awaiting response for consular access to Mr Abegunde through the US Department of State in Washington.
The statement said "The case of Mr Abegunde underscores the need for our citizens to be careful in how they deal with people, even acquaintances, especially when it comes to financial matters.
Mr Abegunde ‘s pleas that his friend, Mr Ayodeji Olumide Ojo, used his address to open a bank account in a US bank, will hopefully be proven right in court Unfortunately, Mr Ojo , his friend, who has been previously indicted by the US Department of Justice and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud is currently at large.
The consulate will undertake a consular visit to Mr Abegunde as soon as consular access is granted by the US authorities.
Please find attached a detailed report by the US Justice department on the matter:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/eight-arrested-africa-based-cybercrime-and-business-email-compromise-conspiracy"
the statement added.
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