Three arrested in fraud scheme with ties to violent Nigerian group: police

TORONTO – Three people have been arrested in connection with what police are calling an international fraud and money-laundering scheme allegedly run by a secretive, violent Nigerian organization with affiliates around the world.

Police say one of the alleged victims of the scheme is a 63-year-old Toronto woman who was defrauded of $609,000 over the course of three months in 2014.

Toronto police Det. Const. Mike Kelly says the woman was contacted though a dating website, a relationship followed and she began handing over money when asked for financial help.

He says the woman has been devastated and “economically ruined.”

Police say two men and one woman have been arrested in connection with the scheme — one of the men is the alleged bookkeeper of the Canadian faction of the Black Axe, or Neo-Black Movement of Africa.

Ikechukwu Amadi, 34, of Mississauga, Ont., Lineo Molefe, 31, and Akohomen Ighedoise, 41 — both from Toronto — have been charged with laundering the proceeds of crime and fraud over $5,000. Ighedoise is also charged with participating in a criminal organization.

Police say they believe there may be other victims.