Nigerian Fraudster Extradited and Sentenced to 8 Years for $6M Email Scam

Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, 39, a Nigerian national, has been sentenced to eight years in a U.S. prison for orchestrating a sophisticated business email compromise scheme that defrauded individuals and companies of more than $6 million. Operating from multiple countries, including the United States, Osuji and his team posed as trusted entities to deceive victims into transferring funds to accounts they controlled.

The scam affected businesses ranging from a financial firm in Connecticut to a nonprofit in Alaska, leaving a trail of financial and emotional devastation. The scheme also preyed on vulnerable elderly victims through romance scams, turning them into unwitting accomplices. One victim, a retiree, lost her life savings, declared bankruptcy, and had her home repossessed after being tricked into sending money to someone she believed was a romantic partner.

Osuji was arrested in Malaysia in 2022 and extradited to the U.S., where he was found guilty on charges including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Osuji's co-conspirators included John Wamuigah, who remains in Malaysia awaiting extradition, and Tolulope Bodunde, who has already served a two-year sentence. Authorities praised international collaboration, including efforts by Malaysian law enforcement, for ensuring Osuji’s arrest and prosecution.