Court Orders Forfeiture of Two Mercedes-Benz Luxury Cars, Phones Linked to Convicted Internet Fraudster
The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the final forfeiture of two luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles, mobile phones and other electronic devices linked to a convicted internet fraudster, Ifeanyi Franklyn Arinze, to the Federal Government.
Justice Yellim S. Bogoro issued the order on Monday, November 9, 2026, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The forfeited vehicles are a white Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 AMG and a grey Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 AMG. Other items include an orange iPhone 17 Pro Max, a silver Samsung Fold 7, a blue iPhone 13 and a silver iPad.
The EFCC told the court that the properties were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.
In an affidavit supporting the application, an EFCC operative, Buluebiere Karamo, disclosed that the Commission had received intelligence identifying Arinze as the alleged leader of an internet fraud syndicate operating in Lagos.
According to the affidavit, Arinze allegedly used the identity “Tonya” on iMessage to contact victims in the United States and persuade them to create foreign financial accounts, including Zelle, Apple Pay, PayPal, Cash App and Venmo.
The victims were subsequently instructed to transfer funds received through the accounts to a Chinese national identified as “Chinko Applepay”.
The EFCC alleged that the Chinese national converted the funds and credited Arinze’s Kuda Bank account with their naira equivalent. Arinze allegedly distributed the money among other syndicate members while retaining 10 per cent as commission.
An analysis of his Kuda Bank account reportedly revealed inflows totalling N2,149,495,381.42 between August 2022 and February 2026.
Investigations also revealed that Arinze allegedly operated 49 Gmail accounts, alongside several Facebook and Instagram accounts, which were used for fraudulent activities.
The Commission further disclosed that Arinze was arrested on April 20, 2024, during a sting operation at Remi Olowude Street, Lekki, Lagos, alongside other suspects.
He was subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court on a two-count charge bordering on computer-related fraud. He pleaded guilty and was convicted on June 5, 2024, by Justice Aneke, who ordered him to maintain good behaviour and refrain from further cyber-related offences.
However, the EFCC alleged that Arinze violated the terms of the judgment by returning to money laundering and computer-related fraud after his conviction and payment of the option of a fine.
Fresh intelligence reportedly prompted another investigation, during which the Commission discovered that the properties listed in the forfeiture application were allegedly acquired with proceeds of fraudulent activities carried out after his earlier conviction.
The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on July 17, 2026, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to allow interested persons or entities to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
Moving the application for final forfeiture, EFCC counsel, C.C. Okezie, informed the court that the Commission complied with the directive by publishing the order in The Guardian newspaper on September 16, 2026.
She added that no individual or organisation had come forward to challenge the forfeiture.
After considering the application and affidavit evidence, Justice Bogoro granted the EFCC’s request and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.
