The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has initiated legal proceedings to confiscate assets linked to Ehiremen Aigbokhan, a Lagos-based individual accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud. Aigbokhan allegedly pilfered more than ₦460 million that was intended for the 2025 inauguration of Donald Trump. The FBI’s action comes in the form of a civil forfeiture complaint, signaling a determined effort to recover the illicit gains from this high-profile scheme.
Court documents reveal that Aigbokhan and his associates employed a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme to execute their deception. This intricate method involved impersonating the legitimate Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. By meticulously crafting fraudulent communications, the fraudsters managed to trick unsuspecting donors into channeling their financial contributions directly into cryptocurrency wallets under their control, rather than to the official committee.
One particularly egregious instance of this fraud occurred on December 26, 2024. A donor received a counterfeit email originating from “.com,” an address cunningly designed to closely mimic the official “.com” used by Steve Witkoff, a co-chair of the inaugural committee. Believing the communication to be authentic, the victim proceeded to transfer a substantial sum of 250,300 USDT.ETH. This cryptocurrency, valued at over ₦400 million at the time of the transaction, was then funneled directly into the fraudsters’ digital wallet, highlighting the significant financial damage inflicted by the scheme. The FBI’s move to seize Aigbokhan’s assets underscores the severity of this cybercrime and the commitment to holding those responsible accountable.