The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has returned $23,000 recovered from an alleged international romance scammer to the British high commission in Abuja.
According to the police, the money was recovered from Achufusi Obioma, a Nigerian, who was investigated for allegedly defrauding a resident of the Cayman Islands through an online romance scam.
A statement on Friday by Benjamin Hundeyin, force spokesperson, said the NPF INTERPOL national central bureau in Abuja received the complaint of the fraud from Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.
Hundeyin said the money was handed to the Royal Cayman Islands Police service through Shaun McLeary, a representative of the British high commission in Abuja.
“The repatriation followed a request received from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service seeking assistance of the INTERPOL NCB Abuja to investigate a Nigerian national, Achufusi Obioma Ikenna, who defrauded a resident of the Cayman Islands through an online romance scam,” the statement reads.
“Acting on the request, INTERPOL NCB Abuja conducted discreet, intelligence-led investigations which led to the arrest of the suspect and the recovery of the sum of $23,000.
“Following the completion of all necessary documentation and in collaboration with international partners, the recovered funds were formally handed over to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, through the British High Commission in Abuja, represented by Mr. Shaun McLeary, for secure delivery to the victim. Meanwhile the suspect will be arraigned at the conclusion of investigation.
“This successful repatriation underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s sustained commitment to intelligence-driven policing, effective international collaboration, and the disruption of transnational cybercrime networks.”
Cayman Islands is a self-governing British overseas territory in the Western Caribbean.
