The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended Osang Usie Otukpa, a Nigerian man accused of defrauding 139 Australians of $8 million through a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme.
The suspect was arrested at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday, December 6, 2024, upon his arrival from the United States.
In a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, the commission disclosed that Otukpa operated under multiple aliases, including Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto, and Kristin Davidson, to execute the scam.
The fraudulent scheme was linked to a rogue cryptocurrency platform named Liquid Asset Group, which Otukpa promoted heavily on social media, luring victims into investing significant sums. The EFCC revealed that the proceeds of the scam were funneled through a global cryptocurrency exchange platform and deposited into Otukpa’s bank accounts.
“Operatives of EFCC have arrested a suspected online fraudster, Osang Usie Otukpa, for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of $AUD8,000,000. He was picked up in a stakeout at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, upon arrival from the United States of America on Friday, December 6, 2024,” the statement read.
“The suspect scammed the victims by luring them on social media to invest in his rogue cryptocurrency investment platform, Liquid Asset Group.”
The EFCC confirmed that investigations are ongoing and that Otukpa will be charged in court upon completion of the process.
