Fake Frederick Leonard: EFCC Returns Recovered Property to American Victim of Internet Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully returned valuable property recovered from a convicted fraudster, Aisosa Ohue, who operated under the alias Frederick Leonard, to its rightful owner, Cheryldene Cook, an American victim of internet fraud.

The announcement was made by EFCC Spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren in a statement released on Friday in Abuja. The returned assets comprise a sum of N19 million, a three-bedroom semi-detached duplex situated in Ward 36A Amagba Community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, a Lexus E350 saloon car, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, and a Samsung A31 phone.

The property was formally presented to Cheryldene Cook during a ceremony in Abuja, attended by Zonal Commander ACE I Adebayo Adeniyi and the Head of the Advanced Fee Fraud Section 1, ACE II Jimoh Rauf.

Cheryldene Cook, who had flown in from the United States of America to receive the items, was accompanied by her legal representative, Dr. Mike Nwosu. During the event, she expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the EFCC for the successful recovery of her assets.

The legal proceedings leading to this restitution began when Justice C.E. Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kuje ordered the forfeiture of the aforementioned property in January. This decision followed Aisosa Ohue’s conviction on a three-count charge, which included obtaining money through false pretenses. Ohue had perpetrated a love scam by impersonating the famous actor Frederick Leonard.

This significant gesture by the EFCC underscores its commitment to combating internet fraud and ensuring that victims are duly compensated for their losses. It serves as a testament to the collaborative efforts between law enforcement agencies and victims in the fight against cybercrime.