The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States of America has requested that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria locate and apprehend two Nigerians, Babatunde Shodiya and Yinka Jamiu, who were listed as wanted for allegedly using a phony website to defraud US healthcare providers out of $13 million, according to the People’s Gazette.
The US filed an indictment against Shodiya (43), and Jamiu (31), alleging that they were part of a fake business email operation that targeted healthcare companies in Minnesota and cost $13 million.
A grand jury in the U.S. District Court for Minnesota indicted them on September 25 for their involvement in a fraud conspiracy that deceived many healthcare providers between October 2020 and 2024.
The U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger said that Shodiya and Jamiu manipulated unsuspecting employees of several Minnesota-based healthcare firms, deceiving them into redirecting payments to fraudulent accounts.
Luger said, “As part of the scheme, Babatunde and Ahmed created a fake ‘spoofed’ internet domain designed to appear as though it was controlled by Fairview Health.”
The Attorney added, “Unbeknownst to the vendor companies, the new accounts were actually controlled by Babatunde and Ahmed and their co-conspirators, not Fairview Health.
“In total, Babatunde and Ahmed fraudulently directed more than $13m in payments intended for Fairview Health from Minnesota-based healthcare companies to accounts controlled by Babatunde, Ahmed, and their co-conspirators.”
Peoples Gazette reports that the U.S. authorities have confirmed that the suspects are Nigerian citizens and are residing in Nigeria.
Sources familiar with the matter reportedly said that American officials have communicated their concerns to Nigeria’s EFCC.
“The U.S. officials reached out to us and informed us that the suspects are believed to be hiding in Nigeria,” an EFCC officer, who spoke to People’s Gazette on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, said.
The EFCC source added, “We have a duty to honor this request in line with our long-standing collaboration with the U.S. in addressing cross-border crimes.”
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