NPF-NCC operatives arrest 2 Indians over N6.17bn fraud, suspect wanted in U.S

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has arrested several suspects in connection with alleged cyber-enabled crimes involving the diversion of about N6.174 billion, electronic banking fraud, armed robbery and the theft of mobile devices valued at $144,440. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the NPF-NCCC, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed this Thursday in Abuja while briefing journalists on recent investigations by the Centre. Ezima said the cases demonstrated the growing convergence between conventional criminality and technology-enabled offences, adding that the police were strengthening intelligence-led investigations and digital forensic capabilities to tackle emerging threats. He said one of the major cases followed a petition received by the Inspector-General of Police on August 13, 2026, from a payment services platform against Ecovista Industries PVT Limited and others over the alleged diversion of approximately N6.174 billion from the Treasury Single Account of a financial institution. According to him, preliminary investigations showed that the alleged transactions were linked to a configuration vulnerability created during the migration of the financial institution’s profile from a public-sector API to a private-sector API. “Investigation further revealed failed earlier transfer attempts valued at approximately N84.39 billion before the successful transactions were processed,” Ezima said. He added that investigators traced 761 payments amounting to about N6.174 billion to 105 beneficiaries across 19 banks. The police boss said some of the transactions were presented as refunds to customers of Ecovista Industries, after which some recipients were allegedly directed to transfer the funds into alternative accounts linked to the company. He said two Indian nationals connected to the company had been arrested and were assisting the investigation, while efforts were ongoing to locate another Indian national, Sandeep Agarwala, who is currently at large. Ezima said the police were working with relevant stakeholders and international partners to determine how the alleged vulnerability was exploited, trace the movement of the funds and recover the proceeds. Robbery victim’s bank accounts compromised The AIG also disclosed the arrest of two suspects over an alleged armed robbery in Abuja that was followed by unauthorised access to the victim’s electronic banking platforms. He said the incident occurred on June 19, 2026, when two complainants on their routine morning exercise around Grey Lodge, Garki II, Abuja, were attacked by two armed men on a motorcycle. “One of the victims sustained injuries during the attack, while a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and an iPhone 17 Pro Max were allegedly stolen,” he said. Ezima said the suspects subsequently gained unauthorised access to the victim’s electronic banking platforms, converting $950 from her domiciliary account and transferring N1.292 million from her naira account to various beneficiary accounts. He added that an additional N50,000 worth of airtime was purchased from the account. According to him, digital forensic analysis and intelligence-led investigation led to the arrest of Hamisu Isa Musa, 38, in Kano in connection with the airtime purchased from the victim’s account. Further investigation, he said, led to the arrest of Abubakar Usman Kesoje, 30, in Keffi, Nasarawa State, over alleged proceeds from the sale of the recharge cards. “Further investigation revealed multiple bank accounts linked to different Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and National Identification Numbers (NINs),” Ezima said. He said items recovered included mobile phones, NIN cards, Corporate Affairs Commission documents, a 2010 Toyota Corolla, several ATM cards bearing different names, seven Point-of-Sale terminals and a firearm. The suspects, he said, remained in custody while investigation continued to identify other persons allegedly connected to the crime and trace the proceeds. $144,440 mobile device theft Ezima also disclosed the arrest of five suspects in connection with the alleged theft and substitution of a consignment of mobile devices shipped from Dubai. He said the case followed a petition received by the Inspector-General of Police through Mmuoka and Associates and subsequently referred to the NPF-NCCC for investigation on June 19, 2026. According to him, the complainant had engaged Segjo Logistics, owned by Olusegun Ojo, to ship mobile devices purchased from suppliers in Dubai.

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