Keyamo, SAN Admits Handling Legal Works For Ikogho, A Nigerian Charged For Massive Fraud, Money Laundering In USA But Denies Knowledge Of The Business Ikogho Was Into

Newly-appointed Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs,
Festus Keyamo, has been linked with Jerry Elo Ikogho, one of the 77
Nigerians charged for massive fraud, money laundering in the United
States of America, Sunday
Independent^[1] can
authoritatively reveal.

Keyamo, who is said to have fraternal relationship with the
alleged fraudster, admitted that he handles legal works for Ikogho,
who was charged on Thursday with 76 other Nigerian nationals for
participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars
through a variety of fraud schemes and launder the funds through a
Los Angeles-based money-laundering network.

The relationship between the Minister and Ikogho, was said to
have started in the early 70s in Ughelli, where they were born but
Jerry’s parents are from Orie-Irri, Isoko South Local Government
Area of Delta State.

They were classmates at Government College Ughelli. Ikogho was
born with a silver spoon, being the son of one of the earlier car
dealers and millionaires. His father was the Chairman of Ikogho
Motors, based in Ughelli.

Keyamo, in an interview with Sunday Independent on Saturday,
admitted that he was handling legal works for Jerry Ikogho, but
clarified that he never knew the kind of business he was into in
America.

Keyamo and Ikogho

“We were born together in the same town at Ughelli in Delta
State. His parents and my parents are close friends up till
tomorrow. We were both raised in the Jehovah Witness’ sect. It is a
whole family union. If he has legal issues, I handled them for him
free of charge. I didn’t know him as a client but as a family
friend with whom we both grew up together,” Keyamo said.

When asked the type of legal briefs he was handling for Ikogho
and if he was aware that he was into a shady business, Keyamo
retorted: “How would I know? He has not been proven guilty. Have
you concluded that he is into massive fraud and money laundering?
That he is a scammer is a slant of the Nigerian press because the
allegation is coming from the FBI.

“I know the mindset of an average Nigerian journalist, I know
what to expect as your headline tomorrow, because I have been
dealing with Nigerian journalists for more than 30 years. Your
headline tomorrow could be ‘Keyamo linked with alleged scammer’. If
it were to be the EFCC that said it, the press in Nigeria would not
publish it this way.”

The fiery lawyer said he would like to hear from Ikogho what
transpired in America before he takes a position, adding that, “If
his explanations are not satisfactory, I will scold him. I have
spoken with the wife since this issue broke out, but I have been
unable to get in touch with him. But I need to hear from him.”

Asked if he would be part of the legal team that would defend
Ikogho in America, Keyamo said, “My license does not permit me to
practice law in the United States of America.”

The Minister, however, described what happened to his friend as
“very unfortunate because he is not from that kind of family. He is
a homeboy. He grew up and did his youth service in Nigeria. I used
to stay with him when I first came to Abuja. He is my brother and
friend, though I am just a month older than him. Anybody can be in
trouble. I am praying for him. If he has valid explanations I will
help him legally. I can’t run away from him,” Keyamo added.

A 252-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed on Thursday,
charged 77 Nigerian nationals with participating in a massive
conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud
schemes and launder the funds through a Los Angeles-based
money-laundering network as uncovered by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI).

The indictment was unsealed after law enforcement authorities,
led by the FBI, Thursday morning arrested 14 defendants across the
United States, with 11 of those arrests taking place in the Los
Angeles region.

Two defendants were already in federal custody on other charges,
and one was arrested earlier last week. The remaining defendants
are believed to be abroad, with most of them located in
Nigeria.

The indictment alleged that the defendants and others used
various online fraud schemes – including business email compromise
(BEC) frauds, romance scams, and schemes targeting the elderly – to
defraud victims out of millions of dollars.