The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that it has obtained a final forfeiture order for $163,592, which was acquired through an alleged fraudulent scheme involving a Nigerian businessman, Akpasi Oziegbe, and a law firm based in the United States.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, under Justice M. S. Liman, issued the forfeiture ruling following an application by the EFCC. According to the commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the court determined that Oziegbe could not demonstrate legitimate ownership of the funds traced to his account associated with Micoz Bluelink Enterprise at United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Oziegbe reportedly impersonated Edward Campbell, a former employee of Applied Industrial Technologies, who had suffered a work-related accident. On June 27, 2022, Oziegbe contacted the U.S. law firm, pretending to be Campbell, and claimed that the company had failed to pay him a settlement related to his injury.
Investigations revealed that Applied Industrial Technologies had already issued a cheque for $165,157 to Campbell. The law firm, following instructions from the impersonator, transferred $163,592 to the account provided, only to learn the next day from JPMorgan Chase Bank that the cheque was altered and fraudulent.
Upon investigation, the law firm reported the incident to both the U.S. Secret Service and the FBI. UBA flagged the suspicious transaction and confirmed its fraudulent nature after verifying with its correspondent bank. Subsequent actions by the EFCC were prompted by a petition filed by Oziegbe, alleging conspiracy and forgery by UBA officials.
Despite his claims that the funds were payments for legitimate materials supplied to the U.S., the EFCC’s investigation, bolstered by FBI documentation, found no evidence to support his assertions. The EFCC had frozen the account in September 2024 to protect the funds and later secured an interim forfeiture order in August 2025.
Prosecutor Ekele Iheanacho, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, successfully led the EFCC’s effort to secure the final forfeiture order, stipulating that the funds are to be allocated to Steven J. Mandel & Co. via the Nigerian federal government. The EFCC had previously issued a wanted notice for Oziegbe relating to this fraud case.
