The Minister of state for Niger Delta affairs, Festus Keyamo has reacted to the trending photo that he appeared in with one of the fraud suspects on FBI List. The photo shows Keyamo posing with Jerry Ikogho, whose name appeared on the list of the cyber fraud suspects apprehended by the FBI.
Keyamo confirmed that he and Ikhogo whose name is the 3rd name on the list were born in Ughelli, Delta state, and grew up as childhood friends.
According to him, the picture was taken in 2011 at the burial of the father of one of the two other men who appeared in the picture. He further explained that Ikogho left Nigeria for the United States about a decade ago.
His words: “He is my childhood friend. We were born in the same town (Ughelli). We attended same church from birth. His parents and mine, best of friends, till tomorrow. His siblings and mine too. Only left for the US about 10-12 years ago.
“Can’t deny him. It’s a family relationship from birth. He’s from a decent family. Hope they got their facts right. The wife has sent the charge to me.
“The authorities clearly stated that he may not have known of the fraudulent schemes, but he helped one or two of them to transfer funds illegally for a fee. And he didn’t declare excess money at the airport. Wish him well.
“In fact that picture is even at the burial of the father of the guy on the far right about 8 years ago. The guy is in the same childhood group like all of us. Likewise the guy on the far left, a lawyer, who died at the National Hospital here in Abuja about 5 years ago.”
Meanwhile, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, says the commission will collaborate with FBI to apprehend the Nigerians indicted in a $46 million fraud case in the United States.
