The saga of Obinwanne Okeke, once celebrated as one of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs, reached a new milestone this week. According to records from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Okeke—widely known as Invictus Obi—was released from federal custody on Wednesday, December 23, 2025.
His release comes significantly earlier than his original projected date of September 3, 2028. While official reasons for the early release haven’t been detailed, legal experts point to the First Step Act, which allows well-behaved federal prisoners to earn time credits through rehabilitation programs.
The Rise and the Phishing Scheme
Before his 2019 arrest, Okeke was the face of youthful African success. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree (2016), he founded the Invictus Group, a conglomerate with interests in oil, agriculture, and real estate. However, federal investigators revealed that this empire was partially fueled by a sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) syndicate.
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The Unatrac Heist: In 2018, Okeke’s group sent a phishing email to the CFO of Unatrac Holding Limited (a Caterpillar export office).
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The Breach: They accessed the CFO’s Office365 account 464 times in just two weeks, setting up email filters to hide their activities.
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The Loss: The group successfully diverted $11 million via 15 fraudulent wire transfers. Most of these funds were never recovered.
A Global Investigation
Okeke’s downfall was the result of a 13-month investigation by the FBI. He was apprehended in August 2019 at Dulles International Airport while attempting to leave the U.S.
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Guilty Plea: In June 2020, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
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Sentencing: In February 2021, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
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Asset Forfeiture: Nigerian authorities also seized over ₦280 million from his local bank accounts.
What’s Next: Deportation and Reflection
Now that he is out of BOP custody, Okeke is expected to face immediate deportation to Nigeria, a standard procedure for non-citizens convicted of federal felonies in the U.S.
His case remains a cautionary tale in the Nigerian business community. It sparked intense debates about:
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The Pressure of Success: How the drive for “meteoric” wealth can lead talented youth toward cybercrime.
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Due Diligence: The importance of vetting “overnight billionaires” before awarding them international accolades.
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Cybersecurity: A wake-up call for global corporations to strengthen their defense against BEC and social engineering attacks.
