Report: Nigerian Trio Allegedly Uses Money Laundering Proceeds to Buy Bitcoins Worth Over $43 Million

Three Nigerian nationals are accused of utilizing cash laundering proceeds to purchase bitcoin value over $43 million from cryptocurrency trade platforms like Binance and Busha. The trio is accused of shifting an equal of over $215 million from Nigeria to Kenya between October and November 2020.

Powerful Kenyan Politician Assists the Alleged Money Launderers

The international legislation enforcement company, Interpol is looking for to conclude a case the place three Nigerian nationals are believed to have used cash laundering proceeds to purchase bitcoins value over $43 million, a report has stated. Three Kenyans together with an unnamed highly effective Kenyan politician are accused of getting aided the Nigerian trio of their efforts to hide the precise motive for shifting the funds.

According to a report by the Kenyan publication, the Nation, a probe by Interpol discovered that the trio might have transferred over $215 million (25 billion Kenyan shillings) from Nigeria to Kenya between October and November 2020.

Once the funds have been in Kenya, the three, Olubunmi Akinyemiju, Olufemi Olukunmi Demuren and Eghosasere Nehikhare, went on a bitcoin shopping for spree. During this shopping for spree, the trio is claimed to have acquired bitcoins that have been on the time valued at $36,353,728 from the U.S. registered department of Binance, one of many largest cryptocurrency exchanges by traded volumes. An additional $7,246,582 was used to purchase bitcoins on Busha, one other cryptocurrency trade.

Authorities Freeze Six Bank Accounts

After buying the bitcoins, the trio is believed to have distributed the cryptos to particular person wallets as a part of an try to make these untraceable, the report stated. Still, the Kenyan publication stated it couldn’t verify the precise variety of bitcoins the Nigerian trio had purchased on the Kenyan crypto trade Bitpesa and on Quidax.

The report stated the Nigerian trio had managed to efficiently transfer funds utilizing the pretext they have been “similar firm fund transfers.” However, the scale of the funds transfers finally aroused the curiosity of Interpol.

Following the Interpol investigation, Kenya’s Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) is reported to have obtained a courtroom ruling which licensed it to freeze six financial institution accounts belonging to 6 firms which can be linked to the alleged cash launderers.

Meanwhile, the Nation report recognized Pauline Wanjiru Wachira and Evalyne Wawira Gachoki as the 2 Kenyan residents that will have aided the Nigerian trio to maneuver the laundered funds.

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