The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has made significant arrests in connection with alleged cyber-enabled crimes, including the diversion of approximately N6.174 billion. The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the NPF-NCCC, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, disclosed this in Abuja while briefing journalists on recent investigations by the Centre. Ezima stated that the cases demonstrated the growing convergence between conventional criminality and technology-enabled offences.
According to Ezima, 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 funds. 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.
The police investigation revealed that 761 payments amounting to about N6.174 billion were traced to 105 beneficiaries across 19 banks. 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. Two Indian nationals connected to the company had been arrested and were assisting the investigation.
Ezima 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. The incident occurred on June 19, 2026, when two complainants were attacked by two armed men on a motorcycle. 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.
The police arrested Hamisu Isa Musa, 38, in Kano in connection with the airtime purchased from the victim's account, and Abubakar Usman Kesoje, 30, in Keffi, Nasarawa State, over alleged proceeds from the sale of the recharge cards. 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 NPF-NCCC also disclosed the arrest of five suspects in connection with the alleged theft and substitution of a consignment of mobile devices shipped from Dubai, valued at $144,440. The case followed a petition received by the Inspector-General of Police through Mmuoka and Associates on June 19, 2026. The complainant had engaged Segjo Logistics, owned by Olusegun Ojo, to ship mobile devices purchased from suppliers in Dubai.
Additionally, the NPF-NCCC arrested Abiodun Olawale Lawal, who is wanted in the United States over alleged wire fraud and attempted wire fraud. Ezima said the Centre received an arrest request from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice through the Inspector-General of Police on September 4, 2026. Lawal was arrested in Abuja on September 11 and subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Key points
- The Nigerian Police Force National Cybercrime Centre arrested two Indian nationals in connection with the alleged diversion of N6.174 billion.
- The police also arrested suspects in connection with an alleged armed robbery and theft of mobile devices valued at $144,440.
- Abiodun Olawale Lawal, a Nigerian suspect wanted in the United States over alleged wire fraud, was also arrested by the NPF-NCCC.
