In a stunning international cybercrime investigation with far-reaching political and diplomatic implications, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has exposed a sophisticated Nigerian-led fraud operation that successfully diverted over ₦460 million (approximately $300,000) from Donald Trump’s 2025 presidential inauguration funds through an audacious cryptocurrency heist. Court documents reveal how Ehiremen Aigbokhan, operating from Lagos, Nigeria, meticulously orchestrated the scam by exploiting vulnerabilities in digital communication systems during the highly sensitive pre-inauguration period, just weeks before the scheduled January 20, 2025 swearing-in ceremony of President Trump and Vice President Vance.
The elaborate scheme, detailed in FBI civil forfeiture filings, involved:
- The creation of near-perfect email clones impersonating Trump Inaugural Committee officials
- Sophisticated social engineering tactics to deceive high-value donors
- Rapid cryptocurrency laundering through multiple digital wallets
- Exploitation of the heightened financial activity surrounding the presidential transition
Authorities confirm this marks one of the most brazen attempts to defraud a U.S. presidential event in history, with the stolen funds originally intended to cover inaugural balls, security arrangements, and ceremonial activities celebrating American democracy. The FBI’s Cyber Division worked in coordination with cryptocurrency forensic experts and the U.S. Secret Service to unravel the complex money trail that ultimately led back to Nigeria’s bustling commercial capital, Lagos
The Elaborate Scam Breakdown
✔ Business Email Compromise (BEC): Fraudster Ehiremen Aigbokhan spoofed official @t47inaugural.com emails with nearly identical addresses (@t47lnaugural.com)
✔ Crypto Theft: Deceived donor transferred 250,300 USDT.ETH (₦400m+) on December 26, 2024
✔ Money Trail: Funds split across multiple wallets; FBI froze 40,353 USDT.ETH (₦60m) via Tether
✔ Nigerian Link: Digital footprints traced to Lagos; Binance account exposed suspect
Key Revelations
• Diplomatic Implications: U.S. weighing extradition for Aigbokhan amid Nigeria’s cybercrime reputation
• Global Cybersecurity Alert: Political donors warned to verify payment requests during elections
• Forensic Evidence: FBI matched IP addresses, wallet activity to Lagos operations
Why This Matters
🔹 Highlights Nigeria’s persistent cybercrime challenges
🔹 Exposes vulnerabilities in political fundraising security
🔹 Demonstrates cryptocurrencies’ role in cross-border fraud
FBI Statement:
“This brazen exploitation of a historic U.S. political event underscores the borderless nature of cybercrime.”
