Nigerian arrested in Ghana for alleged $7.5m charity scam

Olusegun Samson Adejorin, a citizen of Nigeria, is currently facing federal charges in the United States. He is accused of participating in a sophisticated business email compromise scheme that targeted two charitable organizations, leading to an alleged loss of $7.5 million. Adejorin was apprehended in Ghana on December 29, 2023, and is waiting for his initial court appearance in Ghana.

According to an unsealed eight-count indictment in Maryland, Adejorin operated between June and August 2020. During this period, he allegedly gained unauthorized access to employee email accounts at both charities, one located in Maryland and the other in New York. By posing as authorized personnel, Adejorin manipulated the institutions into transferring funds amounting to $7.5 million from the New York organization’s investment funds, which were held by the Maryland organization.

The indictment provides detailed information about the intricate nature of the scheme, including Adejorin’s use of a credential harvesting tool to steal login information, the creation of fake domain names to cover his tracks, and the manipulation of email accounts to conceal his activities.

If convicted, Adejorin could face a maximum sentence of 20 years per count of wire fraud. He could also face an additional five years for unauthorized computer access and mandatory two-year sentences for aggravated identity theft. The potential penalty may be further amplified if domain name misuse is proven.

It is important to note that an indictment does not imply guilt. However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in a press release, described the charges as serious and the allegations as intricate and audacious, suggesting a complex crime.

The FBI played a crucial role in collaboration with international partners in Ghana to apprehend Adejorin and bring him to justice. The FBI’s Baltimore Field Office was especially commended for its work in the investigation. The U.S. Attorney also expressed gratitude to the FBI Legal Attaché in Accra, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), the Office of Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, and the Ghana Immigration Service for their valuable assistance in the case.