Court Forfeits Luxury Cars, Gadgets Linked to Convicted Internet Fraudster to FG

​The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of two luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles, high-end mobile phones, and various electronic gadgets linked to a previously convicted internet fraudster, Ifeanyi Franklyn Arinze, to the Federal Government.

​Justice Yellim S. Bogoro handed down the ruling following a formal application moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, C.C. Okezie.

​The forfeited assets 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 anti-graft investigators, the properties were acquired using proceeds derived from unlawful activities.

​An Elaborate Cyber-Syndicate Network

​In an affidavit deposed to by EFCC operative Buluebiere Karamo, the Commission revealed that intelligence reports flagged Arinze as the mastermind behind a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate operating out of Lagos.

​Investigators disclosed that the respondent operated under the alias “Tonya” on iMessage to target victims in the United States. He allegedly coerced them into setting up foreign financial accounts—including Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App, and Venmo—and directed them to route stolen funds to a Chinese national known as “Chinko Applepay.”

​Upon receiving the funds, the Chinese associate reportedly credited Arinze’s Kuda Bank account with the naira equivalent. Arinze would then distribute portions of the cash to syndicate members while retaining a 10 percent cut. Financial tracking of his Kuda Bank ledger uncovered staggering total inflows of N2,149,495,381.42 between August 2022 and February 2026. Furthermore, investigations revealed he managed 49 Gmail accounts alongside multiple Facebook and Instagram profiles dedicated to fraudulent schemes.

​A History of Recidivism

​Arinze’s run with the law initially caught up with him on April 20, 2024, during a sting operation along Remi Olowude Street in Lekki, Lagos. He was subsequently arraigned on a two-count charge of computer-related fraud and pleaded guilty.

​On June 5, 2024, Justice Aneke convicted him, ordering him to be of good behavior and to steer clear of cybercrimes following the payment of a fine option.

ADVERTISEMENT

​However, the EFCC stated that Arinze violated the terms of his judgment by diving back into money laundering and cyber-fraud operations. Fresh intelligence triggered a new wave of investigations, which ultimately traced the newly acquired luxury assets to post-conviction illicit proceeds.

​Due Process and Final Judgment

​Acting on the findings, the court previously issued an interim forfeiture order on July 17, 2026, mandating the EFCC to publicize the directive in a national newspaper to give any interested parties an opportunity to contest the seizure.

​Moving the final application, counsel C.C. Okezie confirmed that the anti-graft agency successfully complied by publishing the interim notice in The Guardian newspaper on September 16, 2026. With no individual or entity stepping forward to show cause against the forfeiture, Justice Bogoro granted the application in full, permanently transferring ownership of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.