Nigerian businessman Obinwanne “Invictus Obi” Okeke has been released from a United States prison after serving about five years of his 10-year sentence for large-scale internet fraud. His release comes as arrangements are now underway for his deportation to Nigeria in line with the terms of his conviction.
Okeke, once celebrated as a rising African entrepreneur, was arrested by the FBI in August 2019 at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia while attempting to board a flight to Nigeria. He was later sentenced in February 2021 after admitting to participating in a sophisticated business email compromise scheme that defrauded American companies of more than $11 million between 2015 and 2019.
Investigations revealed that he hacked into corporate email systems and intercepted financial communications, including compromising the account of Unatrac Holding Limited, exporters of Caterpillar industrial machinery. By gaining access to the company’s login credentials, he diverted multi-million-dollar payments into fraudulent accounts.
“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated at the time of his sentencing.
Okeke’s early release is believed to be linked to the First Step Act, a U.S. prison reform policy signed into law during Donald Trump’s administration. The law allows sentence reductions for inmates who demonstrate good behavior and meet certain rehabilitative criteria.
Back home in Nigeria, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had earlier ordered the temporary forfeiture of more than N280 million found in his bank accounts as part of ongoing legal proceedings related to his fraud activities.
Before his fall from grace, Invictus Obi was widely celebrated as a symbol of youth success and resilience. In 2016, he earned global recognition after being listed in the Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 category, praised as a visionary entrepreneur with investments spanning real estate, oil and gas, agriculture, construction, and telecommunications.
His rise — and eventual downfall — remains one of the most shocking and talked-about fraud cases involving a Nigerian entrepreneur on the global stage.
Further updates regarding his deportation process and possible legal implications in Nigeria are expected in the coming days.
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