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Court orders forfeiture of cars and phones from convicted fraudster Ifeanyi Arinze, alias "Tonya" on iMessage

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on X on 10 November 2026, and Sahara Reporters reported, that Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, 9 November 2026, ordered…

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Source: saharareporters.com · published

Illustration: Impersonation scams

What happened

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said on X on 10 November 2026, and Sahara Reporters reported, that Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, 9 November 2026, ordered the final forfeiture to the Federal Government of two Mercedes-Benz vehicles (a GLE 53 AMG and a GLC 300 AMG), mobile phones and an iPad belonging to Ifeanyi Franklyn Arinze. According to an EFCC affidavit, Arinze allegedly led a Lagos syndicate and, using the identity "Tonya" on iMessage, contacted victims in the United States and told them to open accounts on Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App and Venmo, then send funds to a Chinese national identified as "Chinko Applepay" who paid the naira equivalent into Arinze's Kuda Bank account; he allegedly kept a 10% commission. The EFCC said the account received about N2.149 billion between August 2022 and February 2026 and that he operated 49 Gmail accounts plus Facebook and Instagram accounts. Arinze pleaded guilty to computer-related fraud and was convicted on 5 June 2024; the EFCC alleges he resumed fraud afterwards. The payment apps named are spoofed channels and not involved.

How the scam works

According to an EFCC affidavit reported with the commission's announcement, Arinze allegedly led a Lagos syndicate and, using the identity "Tonya" on iMessage, contacted people in the United States and told them to open accounts on Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App and Venmo, then send funds to a Chinese national identified as "Chinko Applepay" who paid the naira equivalent into Arinze's Kuda Bank account; he allegedly kept a 10 percent commission. The EFCC said the account received about N2.149 billion between August 2022 and February 2026 and that he operated 49 Gmail accounts plus Facebook and Instagram accounts. Arinze pleaded guilty to computer-related fraud and was convicted on 5 June 2024; the EFCC alleges he resumed the activity afterwards. The forfeiture of two Mercedes-Benz vehicles, phones and an iPad was ordered on 9 November 2026.

The payment apps named are channels that were allegedly misused and are not themselves accused. Romance or "payment runner" approaches that ask you to open a payment-app account and forward money for a contact should be treated as high risk.

Source

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission announcement and Sahara Reporters, 10 November 2026: https://saharareporters.com/2026/11/10/court-orders-final-forfeiture-luxury-cars-gadgets-convicted-fraudster-accused-operating

https://x.com/officialEFCC/status/2120213965221282096

Red flags

  • A messaging-app contact who asks you to open Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App or Venmo accounts and forward money.
  • A request to act as a payment middle person for a romantic or business contact you have not met.
  • Instructions to send funds to a third party in exchange for a commission.
  • A new online identity that quickly moves the conversation to payment apps.

If you were targeted

  1. 1Do not open payment-app accounts or forward money for an online contact.
  2. 2If you have already sent funds, contact the payment app, your bank and the police.
  3. 3The payment brands named in the report are channels that were allegedly misused, not accused parties.
  4. 4Keep copies of the chats and transactions.
  5. 5This report describes a conviction and a later forfeiture order as reported by the EFCC and Sahara Reporters.
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