US-Based Nigerian, Rotimi Oladimeji, Arrested by ICE in New Orleans for Fraud

New Orleans — A Nigerian national, Rotimi Oladimeji, has been arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Orleans over multiple fraud offences, including mail and wire fraud.

ICE confirmed the arrest in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, where it also shared Mr. Oladimeji’s photograph in a grey shirt and headwarmer, describing him as a “criminal alien” from Nigeria.

According to ICE, Oladimeji already carried a criminal history prior to his arrest. He had been convicted of financial crimes and was ordered to pay more than $1.1 million in restitution to victims.

“ICE New Orleans arrested him after his previous conviction for mail and wire fraud. He had been ordered to pay $1.1M+ in restitution,” the agency said.

Rotimi Oladimeji Risk of Jail and Deportation

Mr. Oladimeji now faces the likelihood of a lengthy jail sentence for his offences. After serving his sentence, he could also face deportation to Nigeria, in line with U.S. immigration enforcement laws that target foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.

Also Read: N320 million scam: Fraudster arrested with presidential plate number

The case adds to a growing list of Nigerian nationals arrested abroad for financial crimes, often labeled by authorities as “Yahoo boys.” U.S. federal agencies, including the FBI and ICE, have intensified their clampdown on transnational fraud syndicates, with Nigerian networks frequently highlighted in such crackdowns.

While Nigerian authorities have often expressed concern over the damage such arrests do to the country’s global image, they have also pledged to work with international agencies to curb cybercrime and fraud.