{
  "id": 17095439,
  "title": "Nigerian makes US Most Wanted List over $1m fraud",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/nigerian-makes-us-most-wanted-list-over-1m-fraud",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T17:40:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/nigerian-makes-us-most-wanted-list-over-1m-fraud/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Nigerian man named Onoriode Ezewu has been placed on the United States Department of Labour's inaugural Most Wanted List due to allegations of money laundering involving fraudulent unemployment benefit claims totaling over $1 million. The department's Office of Inspector General announced the list, which includes 16 fugitives wanted for various offenses such as fraud, identity theft, money laundering, labour trafficking, and other crimes. Collectively, these cases involve more than $55 million allegedly stolen from American taxpayers. Ezewu is accused of concealing money laundering and is believed to be currently residing in Nigeria. He was initially charged with 15 counts of concealment money laundering in a scheme that used stolen identities to file fraudulent UI and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims exceeding $1 million, which also included the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. After his arrest and initial appearance, Ezewu violated the conditions of his pre-trial release, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant. The US Department of Labour's Inspector General, Anthony P. D’Esposito, stated that the purpose of this list is to intensify efforts to locate the fugitives and recover the stolen funds. The agency is collaborating with the White House Fraud Task Force to locate those on the list and recover the money involved. The department is also seeking public assistance to locate the fugitives and urged anyone with information about alleged wrongdoing to contact their Office of Inspector General.",
  "summary": "A Nigerian, Onoriode Ezewu, has been named on the US Department of Labour’s first-ever Most Wanted List over allegations of a $1m unemployment fraud scheme Read More: https://punchng.com/nigerian-makes-us-most-wanted-list-over-1m-fraud/",
  "key_points": [
    "Nigerian man Onoriode Ezewu placed on US Most Wanted List for $1m+ fraud",
    "Allegations of money laundering through fraudulent UI and Pandemic Unemployment claims",
    "Ezewu violated pre-trial release, warrant issued for his arrest"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Nigerian govt approves N631b on nine roads nationwide [FULL LIST]",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/nigerian-govt-approves-n631b-on-nine-roads-nationwide-full-list",
        "published": "2026-10-29T04:58:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "Samson Adamu makes history as CAF confirms Nigerian as General Secretary",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/samson-adamu-makes-history-as-caf-confirms-nigerian-as-general",
        "published": "2026-10-29T23:01:57.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}