$11m fraud: Nigerian Invictus Obi leaves U.S. prison after five years

Obinwanne “Invictus” Okeke, the Nigerian businessman jailed in the United States for his role in a multimillion-dollar cyber-fraud scheme, has been released from federal custody, according to records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

A check on the BOP inmate locator shows that Okeke is listed as “Not in BOP Custody as of: 12/23/2025.”

The listing suggests he may have finished serving his term or received some form of early release, though the exact circumstances are still unclear.

Okeke was sentenced in February 2021 after pleading guilty to charges linked to a business email compromise operation that stole more than $11 million from companies.

His sentence initially indicated a projected release date of September 3, 2028, raising questions about why he is now out of federal custody.

So far, there is no public confirmation on whether his sentence was modified, whether he received credit for time already served, or if he was granted supervised or compassionate release. Reports also note that, because his crimes were federal, a transfer to a state prison facility would be unlikely.

Okeke was arrested in August 2019 at Dulles International Airport in Virginia as he attempted to leave the U.S., following an FBI investigation into a sophisticated scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, a company linked to Caterpillar Inc.

Court documents say the operation used phishing emails and fake wire instructions to divert millions of dollars into accounts controlled by the group.

Once celebrated as one of Nigeria’s rising young entrepreneurs and founder of the Invictus Group, Okeke’s downfall sparked debate about cybercrime, fast wealth, and pressure on ambitious youth.

With news of his release, attention now turns to what happens next — whether he returns to Nigeria, remains under U.S. supervision, and what restrictions may apply to him.

Until more details are available from court filings or U.S. authorities, the conditions surrounding his release remain uncertain.