Nigerian extradited from South Africa jailed in US over $4.1m wire fraud

A convict

James Junior Aliyu, a Nigerian national, has been sentenced to a 90-month jail term in the United States over $4.1 million wire fraud and money laundering.

In a statement on Saturday, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Aliyu was ordered to forfeit $1.2 million and return $2.4 million as restitution to victims.

The immigration agency said the Nigerian will be removed from the US after completing his jail term.

THE CASE

In July 2022, the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), with assistance from members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), arrested Aliyu for defrauding dozens of US citizens.

Aliyu was arrested in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa.The Nigerian national was said to have been part of a cybercrime ring involved in phishing, internet scams and money laundering. After Aliyu was extradited to the US, he pleaded guilty to the charges preferred against him. Thecable