In a shocking development that has rocked Nigeria’s tech community, Sapphire Egemasi, a well-known tech influencer and software developer, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in New York.
Egemasi was apprehended alongside Samuel Kwadwo Osei, the alleged mastermind behind a sophisticated cyber fraud and money laundering network that targeted U.S. government agencies.
According to court documents, the fraudulent activities occurred between September 2021 and February 2023. Egemasi, a developer at Devpost, is accused of building fake websites that closely mimicked official U.S. government portals to deceive users into sharing sensitive login credentials.
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Once access was gained, the cybercriminals allegedly diverted large sums of money into controlled accounts. One high-profile breach involved the theft of $965,000 from the Kentucky state government, which was reportedly funneled into a PNC Bank account in August 2022. Another $330,000 was transferred to a Bank of America account during the same period.
The suspects were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2024 and are facing serious charges including wire fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. Both Sapphire Egemasi and Samuel Kwadwo Osei are currently in federal custody awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky.
This case underscores growing concerns about cybersecurity threats and online financial fraud, especially involving tech-savvy individuals misusing their skills for criminal activities.
