Family Affair: Mother, Daughter Arrested Over ₦18m Cyber Scam

​ABUJA, NIGERIA – In a striking case of a family-run cybercrime syndicate, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have arrested a mother and her daughter for their alleged involvement in an international romance scam.

​The duo allegedly collaborated to defraud an unsuspecting citizen of Malta out of over ₦18 million.

​The suspects have been identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru. A third suspect—Diana’s husband and Rokibat’s stepfather, Emmanuel Amanfo—is currently on the run.

​The Paper Trail

​According to a statement released by the Acting Police Public Liaison Officer for the NPF-NCCC, DSP Unwana Imah, the arrest followed actionable intelligence provided by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

​Investigators revealed that the operation was highly coordinated, relying on digital identity theft and a network of local bank accounts to launder the illicit funds.

​”Preliminary investigations revealed that one Emmanuel Amanfo, a resident of Lagos State, who is currently at large, allegedly conspired with his 22-year-old stepdaughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, to open and operate multiple bank accounts for fraudulent activities,” DSP Imah stated.

​The syndicate allegedly targeted a resident of Malta, whose identity is being protected by law enforcement. The victim was manipulated into sending money through international Money Transfer Operators (MTOs) and direct deposits.

​Laundering the Proceeds

​Detectives tracking the financial trail discovered that the funds were initially funneled into various Nigerian bank accounts registered under Rokibat’s name. Once the deposits cleared, the 22-year-old allegedly transferred the bulk of the wealth into an Ecobank account belonging to her mother, Urowhe Diana, where the family systematically spent the proceeds.

​The NPF-NCCC deployed advanced forensic tools to track the suspects’ digital footprints, leading directly to the apprehension of both women.

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​The Hunt for the Stepfather

​While the mother and daughter remain in custody, the Nigeria Police Force has intensified its manhunt for Emmanuel Amanfo, the suspected mastermind behind the banking infrastructure used in the scam.

​The NPF-NCCC reiterated that the suspects will face formal charges in court, including computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, as soon as the investigation is finalized.

​Under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, the police force reaffirmed its aggressive stance against cyber fraud, urging citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious digital activities through official law enforcement channels.