Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested Bekono Marc Eric, a Cameroonian national, over his alleged involvement in a N1.5 billion bank fraud in Lagos.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this on April 24 in a statement shared on its official X account, noting that the arrest was carried out by its Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 in Ikoyi.

The Commission added that the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Although EFCC did not mention the name of the financial institution, it described it as a first-generation bank, adding that the bank was defrauded of about N1.5 billion.

“Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Marc Eric, for allegedly defrauding a first-generation bank of about N1.5bn.”

The agency further disclosed that the 47-year-old suspect, identified as a member of a trans-border syndicate specialising in credit card fraud, was apprehended on April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

According to the Commission, investigations revealed that the syndicate typically opens bank accounts in Nigeria, obtains ATM cards and PINs, and then moves to neighbouring countries where the cards are used to carry out fraudulent transactions on accounts belonging to customers with high balances.

It reiterated that the suspect would be charged in court once investigations are concluded.

The development comes amid rising fraud attacks targeting Nigeria’s financial sector.

On April 22, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), through a statement issued by its Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Hakama Sidi Ali, warned the public about the circulation of fraudulent messages and links aimed at gaining access to personal bank accounts.

“These fraudulent messages, which prompt recipients to click links, peddle false information about the Bank’s leadership, licensing, and policy issues, and are intended to hack personal accounts,” the apex bank said.

Data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) shows that Nigerian banks lost about N52.26 billion to fraud in 2024, marking a significant increase from the previous year.

Although external attacks on financial institutions have increased, some fraud cases originate internally.

On March 3, 2026, the EFCC arraigned two senior officials of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Bakare Oladimeji Surajudeen and James Olukayode Imokwede, over alleged fraud involving $306,667.81 and €50,250.

According to the Commission, an internal audit by the bank uncovered unauthorised debits totalling $306,667.81 and €50,250 (equivalent to N527.4 million) from its Letters of Credit payable accounts, with investigations showing that the defendants processed fraudulent transfers through the SWIFT platform to third parties.

In January, the EFCC also implicated a new-generation commercial bank, six fintech companies, and some microfinance banks in a large-scale financial fraud involving cryptocurrency transactions valued at N162 billion.