{
  "id": 17095749,
  "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-17095749",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T17:44:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/nigerian-makes-us-most-wanted-list-over-1m-fraud/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Onoriode Ezewu, a Nigerian, has been added to the United States Department of Labour’s inaugural Most Wanted List due to alleged money laundering linked to fraudulent unemployment benefit claims amounting to over $1 million. The department’s Office of Inspector General released the list on Wednesday, featuring 16 individuals wanted in various fraud, identity theft, money laundering, labour trafficking, and other offences, which collectively involve more than $55 million allegedly stolen from American taxpayers. According to the agency, the charges against Ezewu include concealment money laundering, and he is believed to be currently in Nigeria. In January 2021, Ezewu faced 15 counts of concealment money laundering tied to fraudulent Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims filed using stolen identities, involving a scheme exceeding $1 million that also involved the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Ezewu violated the conditions of his pre-trial release, leading to an arrest warrant being issued against him. US Department of Labour’s Inspector General, Anthony P. D’Esposito, announced the list to intensify efforts to locate the fugitives and recover the stolen funds. D’Esposito emphasized that the agency is collaborating with the White House Fraud Task Force to locate the individuals on the list and recover the stolen money. The department aims to engage the public, media, online platforms, and international partners to assist in locating the fugitives and ensuring that every stolen dollar is accounted for.",
  "summary": "Onoriode Ezewu, a Nigerian national, has been named on the U.S. Department of Labor’s first-ever Most Wanted List. According to Punch Nigeria, the Office of Inspector General unveiled the list on Wednesday, featuring 16 fugitives wanted for various offenses including identity theft, labor trafficking, and money laundering. The agency stated that the cases on the list involve more than $55 million allegedly stolen from American taxpayers.\n\nPunch Nigeria reports that Ezewu is wanted for concealment money laundering related to a scheme exceeding $1 million. This scheme involved fraudulent unemployment insurance and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims made using stolen identities, which also impacted the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program. Ezewu was charged with 15 counts of concealment money laundering in January 2021.\n\nEzewu is believed to be residing in Nigeria, according to his profile on the department's website. The department stated that an arrest warrant was issued after Ezewu violated the conditions of his pre-trial release following his initial appearance. Anthony P. D’Esposito, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Inspector General, said the new initiative is intended to increase efforts to locate these fugitives.",
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}