BySoni Daniel ABUJA — Details emerged, yesterday, of how aNigerian, Emmanuel Ekhator, successfullyripped off unsuspectingpersons across the United Statesand Canada to the tune of $11 million (N1.782 billion) in a major mail and wire fraud.

Ekhator, who was handed a three-year jail term by aPennsylvania District Court judge, was first arrested and investigated by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before beingextradited to stand trial in the US

The convict, Emmanuel Ekhator

The 42-year-old man wasalso ordered byJustice Yvette Kane to forfeit $11 million (N1.782 billion) to his victimsas restitution, after pleading guilty to the charges brought againsthim.

Justice Kane ordered Ehkator’s forfeiture of property he acquired with the illicit funds in Canada and cash lodged in several banks in Nigeria.

How he did it

While the trial lasted, the prosecutor informed the court that Ekhator was part of an attorney collection scam.

Under the scam, the convict contacted many US and Canadian law firms by e-mail, claimingto be individuals or businessesoutside North Americawho were owed money by entitiesin the United Statesand asked for legal representation to collect the money.

The prosecutor narrated to the court that, “often, the prospective ‘clients’ said the money owed came from a real estate transaction, tort claim, or divorce settlement.

“Once the law firm agreed to represent the out-of-country client, it would be contacted by the US entity purportedly owing money with an offer to pay the client by cheque.

“The clientwould then instruct the law firm to depositthe cheque in the law firm’s trust account, retain the law firm’sfee, and wire the remaining funds to accounts in Asia.”

Counterfeit cheques

The clique, it was disclosed, often mailed counterfeit cheques to law firms once they gave their consent for representations and most of them got to know about the sham cheque after fundsfrom their trust accounts had been wired to Asian banks.

The counterfeit cheques, which appeared to be drawn on legitimate accounts from well-established financial institutions, often included a telephone number for the financial institutions.

Lawyersattempting to determine the validity of the cheque would call the number only to reach another conspirator who would falselyverify the cheque.

The court was also told that Ekhator’s involvement in the scheme made him responsible for lossesof more than $7 million and up to $20 million.

Co-conspirators

Ekhator’s co-defendant, Yvette Mathurin, has also been charged for conspiracy and is awaiting extradition from Canada, while another co-conspirator, Kingsley Osagie, was arrested ashe arrived in Atlanta areafrom Nigeria.

He iscurrently awaiting trial in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

Other co-conspirators are awaiting extradition from several foreign countries as investigation continues against other members of the large, multi-national conspiracy.

Aside from EFCC, other agencies that investigated the crime were the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States SecretService, the Toronto Police Services and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

It wasprosecuted by Assistant US Attorney, Christy Fawcett. source: www. vanguardngr.com

chai!!! Nigerians no de dull at all...why are 'most Nigerians ' chosen to represent de country dis way? abi na onli us poverty de catch; infact dis is a pure act of greed which portrays most Nigerians. we want to eat whr whr we do not farm haba!! I tell when de oyinbos see any Nigerian he ll take off...pls make we represent de gud image of dis country.

pls mods! front page cos we need to discuss as it is affecting de gud Nigerians in de diasporal...