By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The United States of America has requested that a Nigerian national accused of cybercrime be extradited following his arrest in Johannesburg.
James Aliyu has reportedly defrauded dozens out of R192 million.
Aliyu is accused of swindling dozens of US citizens, including South Africans, out of millions through email and text messages.
The suspect was nabbed in a take-down operation by the country’s law enforcement agencies and American police at his home in an estate in Sandton, bringing to an end five years of alleged scamming activity.
Authorities in the USA, where the investigation originated and where most of his alleged victims are based, have applied for his extradition,” says national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe.
He is part of a cybercrime ring involved in phishing, internet scams and money laundering.
His audacious social media posts where he flaunts his wealth have gained him 17,000 followers on his Instagram account Oldsoldier.
Among the fleet of luxury vehicles he bought with the proceeds of fraud were a Porche Cayenne, a Mercedes C220d and a Mercedes-Benz G Class luxury SUV. His social media profiles also depict him on luxury island resorts and luxury holidays in Dubai and the US.
Aliyu is believed to be part of an international syndicate, some of whose members have already been convicted in the US.
In March 2020 the SA Reserve Bank confiscated R231,000 contained in Aliyu’s Standard Bank account under Exchange Control Regulation 22E.
Aliyu is expected to return to the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on 5 July, where proceedings for his extradition for trial in the US are expected to start.