Nigerian PhD student arrested over alleged $1m fraud, romance scam

Published

8 months ago

April 12, 2025

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested a Nigerian national, Mercy Ojedeji, 24, for orchestrating a complex fraud scheme involving forged academic documents, romance scams, and immigration violations that prosecutors say aimed to defraud victims of over $1 million.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ojedeji used forged transcripts, recommendation letters, a résumé, and an English proficiency report to gain admission into a PhD program in Chemistry at the University of Missouri-St. Louis in Fall 2023.

His fraudulent application secured him a full tuition waiver valued at $49,000, along with stipends and other academic benefits.

“Mr. Ojedeji built a false academic profile to deceive a respected institution and gain financial benefits under false pretenses,” said the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a statement released Thursday, April 10.

Authorities say Ojedeji opened a bank account with the forged documents but soon stopped attending classes, failed to fulfill assistantship duties, and did not join any research group.

His behavior led to his expulsion from the university in February 2024 and the revocation of his student visa.

The investigation into Ojedeji began after FBI agents received numerous complaints from victims of romance scams.

Those complaints led agents to a residence connected to Ojedeji’s girlfriend, which was allegedly used to receive proceeds from the scams, including cash and gift cards.

“Between December 19, 2023, and January 4, 2024, agents tracked 35 Express Mail packages to the address.

“Further investigation uncovered that a total of 193 packages had been delivered to the home during the course of Ojedeji’s relationship with the woman,” the FBI reported.

Following a court-approved search of the residence, Ojedeji was arrested and charged with wire fraud and using forged immigration documents.

He has since pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis.

“Ojedeji’s fraud extended beyond academic deception it was a multi-layered scheme that targeted both institutions and individuals,” prosecutors said.

The Nigerian national now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

Sentencing is scheduled to take place in the coming months.

The man who tackled a gunman to the floor and saved people from getting sh0t at Bondi Beach in Australia has been identified as Ahmed al Ahmed.

Published

56 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The man who tackled a gunman to the floor and saved people from getting sh0t at Bondi Beach in Australia has been identified as Ahmed al Ahmed.

He was shot during the incident and is currently recuperating in a hospital.

Meanwhile the two gunmen who k!lled over 9 people during the attack were neutralised.

NB: This page does not support violence and this is just a news report.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSQXFGajEFV/?igsh=M295eGdiNGVtbHBn

🎥 @7newsaustralia

Female Student Missing For 8 Days Found Chilling At Boyfriend’s House

Published

1 hour ago

December 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A fresh controversy erupted online after a female student, missing for eight days, was found at her boyfriend’s house.

‎Details of the incident were shared by a classmate of the lady, identified as @folaaaa on X (formerly Twitter).

According to @folaaaa, her classmate’s parents are of age, and the father disclosed that he is currently 70 years old.

Prior to her being found, her last WhatsApp activity was on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Read Tweet Below…..

My coursemate was reported missing by her parents yesterday. They said they could not reach her for like 8 days. We did our research she was last seen online on Monday. They sha did perfect investigation with the oga olopa and they found out she was with her man”.

Meanwhile, the tweet which has garned over 400,000 views has been flooded with reactions from X users.

Dam Dam stated, “Dem suppose arrest Her and her man. Make dem sleep inside cell for a week. Imagine giving your parents so much headache and eventually you are with a man,at least call them and let them know you are safe wherever you are”.

PP the art, “The number of people that had shared and reshared “missing girl” on my WhatsApp cl was crazy. my friend was telling me this just now and i was so shocked”.

‎Jimmy, “Same thing happened in my department while i was in year 1,fliers were made they even interrogated her male friends.these went on for the whole of the semester only to find out she reads the class group messages and sees the missing fliers. She then later said she’s with her man”.

‎Bhetty, “She went to see a man and she didn’t take her parents’ call?Make she sleep cell for 3 days”.

See below…..

“It took me getting married and giving birth to realise marriage benefits men more” — Woman shares emotional thoughts

Published

6 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A woman has stirred serious conversations online after opening up about how marriage and motherhood changed her perspective on life.

In a heartfelt reflection, she said it was only after getting married and giving birth that she began questioning who marriage truly benefits.

According to her, women often carry the heavier load — emotionally, physically, and mentally.

She explained that marriage can make women feel like tools, responsible for cooking, cleaning, caring for the home, and even contributing financially, while still bearing the full weight of pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare.

She questioned why something described as a “blessing” should come with so much pain, stress, sleepless nights, and emotional strain for women.

In her words, childbirth comes with intense pain, followed by years of responsibility that largely fall on the woman, while many men continue life almost unchanged.

She admitted she never strongly pushed for marriage herself and only went along with it after family pressure. It was the lived experience — not theory — that opened her eyes.

While she made it clear that she loves her son deeply and finds joy in him, she said motherhood also forced her to confront uncomfortable truths about expectations placed on women.

📹: TT/mummychika1

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSP0XSnjAvd/?igsh=MTd3ZzdlbWI0dHV1Nw==