The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has updated its public register of Nigerian nationals convicted of cyber-related offenses, marking them for deportation upon completion of their prison sentences. The list includes 27 online scammers out of a total of 124 Nigerian individuals currently flagged for removal. Among those named are two women whose full identities, photographs, and specific crimes have been made publicly available.
US Government Releases Details of Female Nigerian Fraudsters
The DHS publication includes the names, photos, and convictions of the individuals, providing transparency on the cases. The two women listed are Dumbor Josephine Baribe and Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe, both convicted for their roles in pandemic-related fraud schemes.
Dumbor Baribe: Convicted in COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Dumbor Josephine Baribe, 52, was arrested and convicted for her involvement in a multi-million dollar COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud scheme in Texas. Following a federal trial in January 2025, she was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering by the US Department of Justice. According to court records, Baribe and her co-conspirators submitted fraudulent applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, stealing millions of dollars intended to assist struggling small businesses. After a four-day trial in the Eastern District of Texas, Baribe and two co-conspirators—Olamide Olatayo Bello and Olabode Thomas Ajibola—were convicted on January 16, 2025.
Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe: Guilty in Unemployment Fraud Scheme
Olugbeminiyi Aderibigbe was arrested in the United States for her involvement in a multi-million dollar COVID-19 unemployment wire fraud scheme. According to the US Justice Department website, Aderibigbe, a resident of Powder Springs, Georgia, was originally indicted and arrested in 2021 alongside co-conspirator Olushola Afolabi. They were charged in the Northern District of Alabama with wire fraud and identity theft for exploiting state unemployment systems during the pandemic. In May 2022, Aderibigbe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Federal investigations revealed that the syndicate defrauded the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES) and other states of more than $4 million in pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
Deportation Timeline Not Disclosed
Although the Department of Homeland Security has published the names, photos, and convictions of the individuals, the agency did not disclose the exact dates when the deportations will take place. The list has generated significant attention on social media, highlighting the ongoing efforts by US authorities to combat cybercrime and fraud originating from Nigeria.
