Osondu Victor Igwilo, popularly known as “Ezeego King of the Boys,” has reportedly been extradited from Nigeria to the United States to face prosecution over his alleged role in a transnational fraud scheme said to involve more than $100 million.
Sources familiar with the development disclosed that Igwilo was transferred from the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja on Monday and handed over to U.S. authorities following years of legal proceedings linked to his extradition.
The suspect, who has been on the radar of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is accused of masterminding a sophisticated international fraud network that allegedly targeted victims across multiple countries through phishing campaigns, fake investment opportunities, forged documents and the impersonation of financial institution officials.
According to reports, American prosecutors first filed charges against Igwilo in 2018, alleging that he coordinated a large-scale advance-fee fraud operation that generated illicit proceeds running into tens of millions of dollars.
Investigators claimed that funds obtained from victims were routed through bank accounts in the United States before being transferred to Nigeria and other destinations. Some of the proceeds, authorities alleged, were used to acquire luxury vehicles and other high-value assets.
Igwilo was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Lagos in March 2022 alongside three other suspects over allegations bordering on fraud, money laundering and identity theft.
At the time, the anti-graft agency described him as the leader of a network of so-called “catchers” allegedly used to receive, process and move proceeds derived from fraudulent activities.
Sources also alleged that while in custody at the Kuje Custodial Centre, Igwilo wielded considerable influence and maintained close relationships with some prison officials.
In a related allegation, a former inmate identified as Shettima was accused of collecting more than N200 million from Igwilo after reportedly promising to prevent his extradition to the United States.
The allegations have not been independently verified, and no official statement had been issued regarding the claim as of the time of filing this report.
In the United States, Igwilo is expected to face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and aggravated identity theft.
His extradition marks a significant development in ongoing cooperation between Nigerian and American authorities in tackling cross-border financial crimes and cyber-enabled fraud.
