Nigeria's fraud filled week: FBI bust, Okeke arrest, Jumia's internal crisis

Last updated: 13/08/2024

A week since the arrest of a high profile young entrepreneur, Obinwanne Okeke, days after online sales platform Jumia announced internal breaches by staff in Nigeria and then the massive FBI bust of Nigeria-dominated online fraudsters.

Nigeria’s social media space continues to buzz with implications – direct and indirect; short to medium to long term – of the incidents of the last one week.

In summarizing the week for Nigeria, a Cameroonian tech entrepreneur, Rebecca Enonchong posted on Twitter: “Nigeria, you have a serious problem on your hands. In less than one week: – Fraudster ‘Forbes CEO’ arrested, – Jumia fraud blamed on Nigerians, – 80 person indictment for fraud in L.A.”

In the case of Jumia: a Quartz Africa report said: “The company has disclosed it recently uncovered instances of improper orders placed and subsequently cancelled on its marketplace platform wrongly inflating its order volume.

“Some of the improper sales practices, the company said, were carried out by its own personnel in “Jumia Force,” its network of commissioned agents.”

Remember our interview with Jumia two months ago denying fraud allegations? Well… the company has now acknowledged this saying that sales agents and employees in Nigeria manipulated sales by placing orders that were later cancelled. issamchleuh https://t.co/6pPe3HRKGv https://t.co/xfCiCnNv7C

— Maggie Mutesi ?? (MaggieMutesi) August 22, 2019

For many Nigerians on Twitter, from a video clip of president Buhari earlier this year talking about hardwork and integrity, the publication of names of the implicated Nigerians, bemoaning of the further depletion of the Nigerian name.

Even to a call to strip the crimes of ethnic coloration given that #IgboYahooBoys hashtag had trended at a point, a veiled spite of the Igbo ethnic group in South East Nigeria whose indigenes dominated the list.

Others also wanted the national graft body, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC; to make known its role in the FBI operation whiles for many others, it was all about preaching hardwork and contentment.

“I hope the FBI is already in touch with the EFCC to fish these fraudsters out. We need a database of fraudsters, with their photos and crimes published for public consumption,” one Twitter user Gimba Kakanda posted on Friday.

It is understandable that we all want to live comfortable lives. It is also important to realize that the most comfortable thing we can all do is to work hard and live within our means. pic.twitter.com/sFXHMdDmsM— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) February 14, 2019

We must embrace the reality that the image of our country is seriously damaged by the fraudulent activities of our countrymen abroad.The FBI charges against Nigerians must be seen as a wake up call to do something now.Their acts stains us all & criminalize our country.

— Senator Shehu Sani (ShehuSani) August 23, 2019

With this FBI list of 80 Nigerian scammers, and the media coverage coming with such bad representation, our national image has hit a new low. There’s no “but we are not the only ones doing this” here, the implication is devastating. Especially in online transactions and travels.— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) August 22, 2019

? The head of the gang who scammed over 1.1 Billion Naira from Americans within 2 years and brought shame and disgrace to himself, family and country. ☄ https://t.co/N4hmn06Py2— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) August 24, 2019

Good morning. #ThisIsYourConscienceSpeaking. When people disgrace our country by engaging in fraud, our reaction should not be “It’s not only us” or “It’s because we are poor.” We should condemn the perpetrators and list 80 Nigerians making us proud around the world. Think am o.— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) August 23, 2019

We all pay for the crime of a few others.

??? 'We no longer do WesternUnion transfers to Nigeria" ??Texas Western Union Agent to Customers(Photo Credit NaijaFlyingDr ) pic.twitter.com/oDFxznp202— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) August 24, 2019

Are we just stating facts when we say most yahoo boys are from xyz place? Do we treat the information like trivia: interesting but useless? Are we being sensible not to further perpetuate our discriminatory tendencies, which, globally, tend to worsen when the economy is down?— Dr. Joe Abah (@DrJoeAbah) August 24, 2019

FBI agents are popping bottles with you in clubs and sharing fraud ideas with you. They know the depth and sound of your snore. They know when your shit is hard or watery. They know how long you last or if you cum early. You dated them. Just stop and go legit! Ire o.— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) August 23, 2019

In a world of narratives, after that press conference by the FBI, there should have been another press conference by Nigerian authorities stating Nigeria’s side – how they assisted the FBI, previous collaborations, commitment to fighting these crimes, identify ??n successes in ??— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) August 23, 2019

80 Nigerians Arrested by FBI

Nigerians: they have spoilt our reputation, they have spoilt our name

Come what is OUR ?

Did you see Roviel there ?

I like the way FBI listed them with their botanical names and nomenclature so we don’t get confused— Trouble Maker ?(G.O). (@ObongRoviel) August 22, 2019

The term #IgboYahooBoys is as wrong as #FulaniHerdsmen

You can not go into the gutter because some other's chose the gutter as a place of permanent abode since the escalation of kidnapping crisis in our dear country. #LoveTrumpsHate pic.twitter.com/KIrKQYP5vq— Kayode Ogundamisi (@ogundamisi) August 23, 2019