Saint Lucia, an island country in the Caribbean has revoked its citizenship from a Nigerian fraud suspect, Boniface Amadianeze Odenigbo, through the country’s Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP).
The revocation was gazetted by the country’s government on December 14, 2021, against Odenigbo for “acts that may bring Saint Lucia into disrepute.”
According to Nigeria Abroad, the document by the Minister for the CIP, Dr. Ernest Hilarie, said, “in exercise of the power conferred under Sections 38(1) and 39 of the Citizenship by Investment Act, Cap. 1.20” had issued a “Citation” and a “Revocation Order regarding the Saint Lucian citizenship granted to one Boniface Amandianeze Odenigbo.”
The order stated, “The grant of citizenship to Boniface Amandianeze Odenigbo is revoked, as in the opinion of the Minister, Boniface Amandianeze Odenigbo has committed an act which may bring Saint Lucia into disrepute.”
The order was signed by the minister on December 3.
Earlier, online media outlets in Saint Lucia had reported about Odenigbo’s arrest by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), sparking state action.
Odenigbo and Olasunmbo Olawale were charged in July by the EFCC for alleged internet fraud and money laundering.
The suspects, owners of Buzz Bar, a nightclub located on Adetokunbo Ademola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, were arrested at No 2A and 2B Oniru Estate, Lagos.
Upon their arrest, four exotic cars, mobile devices, laptops, jewellery and wristwatches worth hundreds of millions of naira were recovered from them.
