Nigeria: Two US-based Nigerians face 62-year jail term for $50m fraud
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Two Nigerian nationals based in the United States, Solomon Aluko and Nosakhare Nobore, are facing a potential 62-year jail term each for their alleged involvement in a $50m fraud scheme. The suspects, along with four other accomplices, were arraigned before a New York court on multiple counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering.
According to a court document obtained from the US Department of Justice website, the suspects committed the offenses between March 2020 and March 2025, in the Southern District of New York and other locations within the US. The charge sheet revealed that the defendants worked together to steal money by passing counterfeit, stolen, and fraudulently obtained checks.
The suspects allegedly used the stolen identities and information of various individuals and businesses to open bank accounts, which were then used to deposit the fraudulently obtained checks. Once the checks were deposited, the defendants withdrew the funds in cash or transferred them to other accounts under their control.
The court document stated that the defendants attempted to obtain approximately $80 million in total, but succeeded in depositing around $50 million. The suspects created a “fraud bible” containing instructions on how to operate the scheme, and they openly communicated their operations via a Telegram group.
The US FBI Acting Assistant Director, Leslie R. Backschies, commented on the case, stating that the defendants allegedly used sham businesses, stolen and fake identities to operate a multi-year check fraud scheme. The FBI will continue to ensure that fraudsters attempting to exploit government programs are brought to justice.
Similarly, the US IRS Special Agent in Charge, Harry Chavis, noted that the suspects took pride in their multiple schemes, which stole nearly $50 million from the American public. They lied and cheated a benefits system meant to help struggling businesses, while stealing checks from agencies that assist the elderly and veterans.
Following their indictment, the suspects face a potential 62-year jail term each for the four counts. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided for informational purposes only.
