Lagos Yahoo Boy Dupes U.S. Presidential Inaugural Fund

In a stunning case of international cybercrime, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has uncovered a sophisticated online scam in which a Nigerian internet fraudster, identified as Ehiremen Aigbokhan, allegedly diverted over ₦460 million intended for the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump in January 2025.

According to an official FBI report, the scam took place on December 26, 2024, when an unsuspecting victim wired 250,300 USDT.ETH—a cryptocurrency tied to the U.S. dollar and hosted on the Ethereum blockchain—valued at over ₦400 million at the time. The transaction was the result of a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme, a notorious cybercrime technique that involves impersonating high-ranking officials or trusted contacts to trick victims into making large fund transfers.

The FBI’s forensic investigation traced the fraudulent emails and wallet activity to Nigeria, with repeated IP logins pointing to Lagos as the operational hub of the cyber scam.

Mr. Aigbokhan is now the subject of an international manhunt. The FBI has requested a formal arrest warrant and confirmed that he will face multiple charges, including wire fraud and money laundering.

The case has not only rattled U.S. law enforcement agencies but is also expected to strain diplomatic relations as authorities push for cross-border cooperation to combat cybercrime originating from West Africa.