Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Director Christopher Wray visited Abuja this week, where he engaged with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu, and senior law enforcement and security officials.
The discussions centred on enhancing the partnership between the FBI and Nigeria in combating terrorism, violent crime, and cybercrime.
During his visit from June 12-14, Wray expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating with the FBI against transnational criminal and terrorist threats.
He highlighted the FBI’s ongoing cooperation with the Nigerian National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC) and ONSA, emphasizing the alignment of their counterterrorism efforts with the security priorities of both nations.
Wray also met with the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), commending the EFCC’s close cooperation with the FBI in tackling cyber-enabled crimes and sextortion schemes from Nigeria.
Discussions included opportunities for the FBI to provide further training and resources to bolster the EFCC’s capacity to investigate cyber threats.
Addressing the issue of kidnappings for ransom in Nigeria, Wray noted the FBI’s International Violent Crimes Unit’s engagement with Nigerian law enforcement.
He further highlighted ongoing efforts to provide investigative assistance and training to help mitigate this threat.
Throughout his engagements, Wray reiterated the strong relationship between the FBI and Nigerian law enforcement.
He expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria for collaborating with the FBI’s legal attaché office in Abuja, which is crucial for advancing shared security goals.
”The FBI’s collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, facilitated through a network of legal attaché offices worldwide, including in Lagos, Nigeria, remains vital.
”Joint investigations, information sharing, and capacity-building with global partners like Nigeria are integral to the FBI’s mission to protect the American people and uphold the rule of law,” he stated.
Earlier this year, one Odogwu Banye Mmobuosi, also known as “Dozy Mmobuosi,” was accused of orchestrating an elaborate securities fraud scheme by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court alleged that Mmobuosi masterminded a deceitful plan from approximately 2019 to 2023.
Central to the scheme was the false portrayal of Nigerian companies—Tingo Mobile and Tingo Foods—as lucrative operational entities, purportedly generating staggering revenues totalling hundreds of millions of dollars each.
