The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a 47-year-old Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Marc Eric, over an alleged N1.5 billion fraud involving a first-generation bank in Lagos.
The anti-graft agency said in a statement on Friday that Eric was arrested on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos by operatives of its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said preliminary investigations showed the suspect was part of a transnational network that allegedly targets bank customers through fraudulent ATM card transactions.
According to the commission, members of the syndicate reportedly open bank accounts in Nigeria, obtain Automated Teller Machine cards and their Personal Identification Numbers, before moving to neighbouring countries where the cards are allegedly used to carry out unauthorised transactions on accounts with high balances. “Investigations revealed that members of the syndicate open bank accounts in Nigeria, obtain Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and PINs, and then move to neighbouring countries where they use the cards to carry out fraudulent transactions on accounts belonging to customers with high balances,” the EFCC said.
The commission stated that the scheme allegedly led to losses estimated at about N1.5 billion for the affected bank. The EFCC did not name the affected bank or provide further details about how the alleged fraud was uncovered.
Oyewale said the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations. “The suspect is a member of a trans-border syndicate specialising in credit card fraud,” the statement read. “Investigations revealed members open bank accounts in Nigeria and obtain ATM cards and Personal Identification Numbers. They then move to neighbouring countries and use the details to carry out unauthorised transactions on accounts with high balances.”
The commission added that efforts were ongoing to track other members of the syndicate. The arrest adds to recent efforts by the anti-corruption agency to crack down on cyber-enabled and cross-border financial crimes.
