Presidency responds to FBI Arraignment of 77 Nigerians

The presidency has said the government will not stand in the way of justice being administered on its citizens who act contrary to laws of their host countries.

“Every citizen of this country who travels out of the country is required to obey the laws of their host countries, The (Nigeria) government would not stand in the way of the justice system. ” Garba Shehu, the Presidential spokesman said in an interview on Channels Television Sunday night.

United States Department of Justice had on Thursday published names of 80 persons involved in huge money laundering in the United States. Most of whom are Nigerians.

“This case is part of our ongoing efforts to protect Americans from fraudulent online schemes and to bring to justice those who prey upon American citizens and businesses,” said United States Attorney Nick Hanna. “Today, we have taken a major step to disrupt criminal networks that use BEC schemes, romance scams and other frauds to fleece victims. This indictment sends a message that we will identify perpetrators – no matter where they reside – and we will cut off the flow of ill-gotten gains.”

The United States also narrated the strategies adopted by the alleged fraudsters leading to the swindling of innocent citizens. Valentine Iro, 31, and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe, 38, are named as lead suspects in the case.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said 14 of the suspected fraudsters have been arrested across the United States, with 11 of these defendants apprehended in the Los Angeles region. The remaining defendants are believed to be abroad, most of them in Nigeria, authorities said.

“The government will generate and ask for new laws from the National Assembly and there will be new executive orders that will block some of these loopholes that have been exploited by our fellow countrymen to go out there and embarrass and black paint the country,” Shehu said.

He remarked that President Buhari will not excuse Nigerians from obeying laws of the country in which they reside.

The presidential spokesman, however, urged countries of the world not to generalise Nigerians as fraudsters and criminals. “The action of a single Nigerian is not the action of all Nigerians,” Shehu said.

He asserted that Nigerians are hardworking and honest people and should not be tagged ‘fraudulent people’ for the misdeeds of a few.

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