Nigerian arrested in UK airport over mining fraud

Edwin Omokhuale

Irish authorities have arrested a Nigerian businessman, Edwin Omokhuale, for allegedly swindling an Australian mining company of €19m.

He was nabbed by officers from An Garda Síochána as he was about to board a flight to Paris at Dublin Airport on Thursday.

The Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ, reported that the 39-year-old was declared wanted by the National Crime Agency in the UK in connection with a multi-million-pound fraud.

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“He was detained on an arrest warrant issued by the UK and would face charges of money laundering in connection with a fraud committed against an Australian mining company of around $23m (approximately €19m) in early 2023.

“Mr Omokhuale, who lived in the UK at the time of the fraud, will appear in court in Dublin, as extradition proceedings to bring him back to the UK begin.”

Biodun Busari is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on human interest, crime, diaspora issues, and feature storytelling. He focuses on producing engaging, informative stories that enlighten the public and provide context on complex topics. Biodun’s work demonstrates hands-on newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accurate, purpose-driven journalism.

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