COURT ORDERS FINAL FORFEITURE OF TWO MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES, GADGETS LINKED TO FRAUDSTER
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By: Hammad Fasasi
The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of two luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles, mobile phones and other electronic devices linked to a convicted internet fraudster, Ifeanyi Franklyn Arinze, to the Federal Government.
Justice Yellim S. Bogoro issued the order on Monday, November 9, 2026, following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The properties include a white Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 AMG, a grey Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 AMG, an orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, a silver Samsung Fold 7, a blue iPhone 13 and a silver iPad.
According to the EFCC, the items were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
The commission’s application, filed through its counsel, C.C. Okezie, was supported by an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, Buluebiere Karamo.
In the affidavit, Karamo disclosed that the commission had received intelligence alleging that Arinze was the leader of a syndicate of fraudsters operating in Lagos.
The EFCC alleged that Arinze used the identity “Tonya” on iMessage to contact several victims in the United States and persuade them to create foreign financial accounts, including Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App and Venmo.
The victims were allegedly instructed to transfer funds received through the accounts to a Chinese national identified as “Chinko Applepay”. The individual reportedly converted the funds into their naira equivalent and credited Arinze’s Kuda Bank account.
Arinze allegedly transferred the money to other members of the syndicate while retaining 10 per cent as commission.
An analysis of his Kuda Bank account reportedly showed total inflows of N2,149,495,381.42 between August 2022 and February 2026.
Further investigations allegedly revealed that Arinze operated 49 Gmail accounts, alongside several Facebook and Instagram accounts, which were used for fraudulent activities.
The affidavit also stated that Arinze was arrested on April 20, 2024, during a sting operation at Remi Olowude Street, Lekki, Lagos, alongside several other individuals.
He was subsequently charged before the Federal High Court on a two-count charge bordering on computer-related fraud.
According to the commission, Arinze pleaded guilty and was convicted on June 5, 2024, by Justice Aneke, who ordered him to maintain good behaviour and refrain from further involvement in cyber-related offences.
However, the EFCC alleged that he violated the terms of the judgment by continuing to engage in money laundering and computer-related fraud after his conviction and payment of the option of a fine.
The commission said it received fresh intelligence suggesting that Arinze had continued his fraudulent activities, prompting another investigation.
During the investigation, the EFCC allegedly discovered that the properties listed in the forfeiture application were acquired with proceeds of fraudulent activities committed after his earlier conviction.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on July 17, 2026, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow any interested person or entity to explain why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
Moving the application for final forfeiture, Okezie told the court that the commission had complied with the directive by publishing the interim order in The Guardian newspaper on September 16, 2026.
She added that no individual or organisation had come forward to contest the forfeiture or show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
After considering the application and the affidavit evidence presented by the EFCC, Justice Bogoro granted the request and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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