Nigerian Self-named ‘Tech Queen,’ Sapphire Egemasi, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI and may face up to 20 years in prison after being arrested over her alleged involvement in a transnational fraud syndicate that defrauded multiple U.S. government agencies of millions of dollars.

Nationwide Reports learnt that Egemasi, a software programmer known for flaunting a luxurious lifestyle on social media and boasting affiliations with top tech firms, was apprehended around April 10, 2025, in the Bronx, New York.

Her arrest followed a federal grand jury indictment filed in 2024, which charged her and several co-conspirators with internet fraud and money laundering. The crimes reportedly took place between September 2021 and February 2023.

She was a key player in a sophisticated cybercrime operation allegedly led by Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei.

The group targeted U.S. municipal institutions, including the city government of Kentucky, using phishing schemes and spoofed websites to steal login credentials and reroute public funds to fraudulent accounts.

Egemasi’s specific role was to leverage her programming skills to design fake websites mimicking those of legitimate U.S. government agencies.

These sites tricked employees into providing secure login information, which the syndicate used to access accounts and siphon off funds. Investigators say Egemasi was also instrumental in laundering the stolen money, helping to move it through various banks via wire transfers.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday remanded an E-payment Service Manager with Premium Trust Bank, Matthew Adeniyi Damilola, alongside four others, over their alleged involvement in hacking into the bank’s server.

The other defendants are Kehinde Odeyemi, a nursing mother, Samson Latshin Dakup, Bolaji Omotosho Yinka; and Sunday Badeniyi Okunnola were arraigned before Justice Alexander Owoeye.

They are facing six counts bordering on conspiracy, cybercrime, and unlawful access to the bank’s database, preferred against them, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Zeenat Atiku, told the court that the offences were committed between April and May 2025

She said the defendants acted in concert with three others identified as Humble, Isa Ismaila, and Victor Joshua Ilemona, also known as Oracle, who are currently at large.

Atiku alleged that Damilola, the bank’s E-payment manager, unlawfully disclosed the bank’s server access code, including IP and domain credentials.

This breach allegedly enabled the other defendants to gain unauthorised access to Premium Trust Bank’s database, resulting in a financial gain of $10,000.

She further told the court that the defendants procured an HP ProBook 440 G9 laptop (Serial No. SN#5CD2473N6G), specifically to bypass the bank’s security systems. Additionally, an Eagle flash drive was also acquired for the same purpose.

According to the prosecutor, the alleged offences contravened Sections 12(1)(b), 27, 28(1)(b)(c), and 28(3) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), and are punishable under Section 28(2) of the same Act.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants into prison custody pending trial.

Attempts by the defence to make oral bail applications were rejected by Justice Owoeye, who advised them to file formal bail applications.

Consequently, by the agreement of the counsel, the judge adjourned the matter to June 30, 2025, for trial.

The judge ordered that all the defendants be remanded into the custody of a correctional centre pending trial.

The judge, however, advised the defendants’ counsel to apply for the abridgement of the date once their bail applications are ready.