The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday said it arrested Instagram comedian Pankeeroy for alleged internet fraud.
Born Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, Pankeeroy makes comedy skits which he posts to his over 500,000 followers.
The anti-graft agency in a statement said he was arrested alongside 34 others in Lekki, Lagos.
“Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the EFCC have arrested an Instagram comedian and social media Influencer, Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, A.K.A. Pankeeroy,” the EFCC said.
“Until his arrest, Chidera, who claimed to have gone into Bitcoin scam after he suffered depression, had been presenting himself as a vendor who redeems bitcoin vouchers using the bitcoincoretrading.com platform to defraud his unsuspecting victims,” it added.
The EFCC said its investigations revealed that one of the suspects, Christian, allegedly defrauded an aged Asian-American lady of over $475, 000.
Pankeeroy also flaunts beautiful ladies, exotic cars, shoes, wears, houses and wristwatches on Instagram, elevating him to the status of a social media influencer.
Last year, the Dubai police arrested Nigerian Instagram celebrity Ramon Abass, aka Hushpuppi and extradited him to the United States to face trial.
Hushpuppi and his gang are alleged to have committed fraud amounting to 1.6 billion Dirham (N168 billion) while 13 luxury cars, estimated at 35 million Dirham (N3.7 billion) were recovered from the house where they were arrested.
