Ume Ifechukwu Clinton, 29, was detained by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on suspicion of impersonation, computer-related fraud, acquiring by false pretence, and money laundering.
Following the publication of a news article by the online publication foundation for investigative journalism detailing how Clinton defrauded Axelle Mahieu, an educator working as a caregiver in Brussels, Belgium, the EFCC's agents detained Clinton on October 18, 2022, at No. 46 Atoke Gbadebo Street, Isheri, Lagos.
In November 2021, the victim noticed she got a message when she was browsing through her Facebook page. Ume Ifechukwu Clinton, identifying himself as "a buddy of a friend," sent the message.
As they continued chatting in the following days, Clinton told Mahieu that he was an official of the EFCC, with a fake Identity Card and Nigerian Passport as proof.
After several months of video calls and gaining Mathieu’s trust, Clinton allegedly proposed a cryptocurrency business to her, assuring her of huge profit and secured capital.
After convincing the Belgian, Clinton ended up defrauding her of €45,000.