By Emeka Blast 
FBI Investigates Lagos-Based Suspects Over Alleged Fraud Tied to Trump’s 2025 Inauguration Fund
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched a manhunt for Ehiremen Aigbokhan, a Lagos-based Nigerian accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cyber scam that siphoned over ₦460 million ($250,300) in cryptocurrency intended for U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration. The high-profile fraud, executed through a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme, targeted a donor to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, sparking outrage and highlighting vulnerabilities in political fundraising.
On December 26, 2024, Aigbokhan allegedly used a spoofed email address, @t47lnaugural.com, mimicking the official @t47inaugural.com used by committee co-chair Steve Witkoff, to deceive a donor into transferring 250,300 USDT.ETH, a dollar-pegged cryptocurrency on the Ethereum blockchain, valued at over ₦400 million at the time. The funds were swiftly dispersed across multiple crypto wallets, with 215,000 USDT.ETH moved within days to obscure the trail. The FBI, in collaboration with Tether, froze approximately $40,353 USDT.ETH, including 20,017 from Aigbokhan’s Binance account, registered in October 2024 with no prior deposits, and 20,336 from a connected wallet, totaling over ₦60 million at black market rates.
Court documents filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock Jr. in the District of Columbia reveal that forensic analysis traced the scam’s email and wallet activity to Lagos, with IP logs pinpointing Aigbokhan as the key suspect. The FBI is pursuing an arrest warrant for charges of cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering, and wire fraud. While no extradition details have been disclosed, the case has intensified calls for U.S.-Nigeria cooperation to combat cybercrime, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reportedly assisting.
Social media reactions on X range from shock to amusement, with posts like @ItzSophia200’s quip, “Even Trump done confirmed say Nigeria no be child’s play 😂,” reflecting a mix of national pride and embarrassment. However, a Guardian fact-check clarified that Trump himself was not defrauded; the victim was a donor misled by the spoofed email. The misleading narrative that a “Lagos Yahoo Boy scammed Trump” has fueled online memes, with @CFc_Nuhu10 joking, “From Lagos to the White House, donations delivered!”
The incident has raised alarms about cybersecurity in political campaigns, with U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro urging donors to verify recipient details meticulously. “It’s extremely difficult to recoup lost funds due to blockchain’s complexity,” she warned. As the FBI seeks to recover the remaining funds and apprehend Aigbokhan, the case underscores the global reach of Nigerian cybercrime and the urgent need for robust digital safeguards ahead of high-stakes events like the January 20, 2025, inauguration.
