RismadarVoice Reporters, April 24, 2026
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Marc Eric, over alleged involvement in a sophisticated bank fraud scheme targeting a first-generation financial institution in Nigeria.
The 47-year-old suspect was arrested on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State following intelligence-led investigations into a transnational credit card fraud syndicate believed to have siphoned about N1.5 billion.
According to the EFCC, Bekono is a suspected member of a cross-border criminal network that specialises in fraudulent financial transactions involving Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and account breaches.
Preliminary findings revealed that the syndicate allegedly opens bank accounts in Nigeria, obtains ATM cards and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), and subsequently relocates to neighbouring countries where the cards are used to carry out unauthorised transactions on accounts with substantial balances.
The anti-graft agency said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational financial crime networks exploiting gaps in regional banking security systems.
EFCC officials confirmed that the suspect is currently in custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The commission also assured that efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the syndicate believed to be operating across West African borders.
