Jury Indicts Obinwanne Okeke, May Forfeit $11 Million, Diamond Ring

A federal grand jury in the United States has indicted Obinwanne
Okeke for $11 million fraud.

The decision affirmed the investigation of the U.S. Department
of Justice, conducted by the F.B.I, and now set the stage for
commencement of criminal trial.

Besides the indictment, the jury also recommended that Mr Okeke
be made to forfeit at least $11 million in cash and asset or both
if convicted.

An emerald cut engagement ring found on him when he was arrested
should also be forfeited, the jury ruled.

Mr Okeke, 31, was arrested on August 6 in the U.S. and slammed
with two counts of computer and wire fraud. He was subsequently
taken before a court and remanded in prison following preliminary
hearings.

While he remained in custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, a
grand jury was set up to look into the allegations against him.

The jury returned on September 9 with an indictment of Mr Okeke
for the $11 million fraud.

A grand jury typically consists of 23 people who may not
necessarily be lawyers or have law enforcement backgrounds.

The F.B.I. had detailed the fraud in its criminal affidavit
against Mr Okeke as involving a subsidiary of heavy equipment
manufacturer, Caterpillar. The business email compromise (BEC)
fraud was carried out in 2018, American authorities said.

The jury agreed with the F.B.I. findings that Mr Okeke, better
known in Nigeria as ‘businessman’ Invictus Obi, was the individual
who committed the fraud alongside others.

It was unclear whether Mr Okeke’s alleged accomplices have been
identified or authorities have deliberately concealed their details
because they are still at large.

With the indictment, Mr Okeke’s trial will now commence on
September 16, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. Douglas Miller, a U.S.
magistrate at a federal courthouse in Newport News, Virginia, has
been assigned as the presiding judge in the criminal matter.

Mr Okeke, who faces up to 30 years if convicted, has named John
Iweanoge, a Washington D.C. attorney of Nigerian origin, as his
lead counsel. He would be expected to enter a plea during his
September 16 appearance.

Mr Okeke, 31, had been widely celebrated in local and foreign
media as a shining light amongst Nigerian youth.

He said he founded Invictus Group, which has business interests
in real estate, oil and gas, renewable energy amongst others.

He had travelled to the U.S. apparently without a prior
knowledge that he was being investigated by the F.B.I. and settled
in Alexandria, Virginia, about 13 kilometres south of Washington
D.C.

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