FBI arrests UK-based Nigerian, Ajibola Oduntan, over multimillion-naira Broadway ‘Wicked’ ticket scam
The FBI has apprehended Ajibola Oduntan, a UK-based Nigerian, after investigators linked him to a ticketing fraud scheme that defrauded the Broadway musical Wicked of more than $100,000 in sales between September and October 2023 at the Kentucky Performing Arts (KPA).
Mr. Oduntan, 47, who also possesses Irish citizenship, is facing charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky, Louisville. Authorities allege that he stole credit card details from multiple U.S. citizens to purchase at least 61 Wicked tickets from KPA.
He then resold the tickets through StubHub, a major ticket resale platform, to unsuspecting buyers.
When credit card companies detected the unauthorized transactions, they issued chargebacks, leaving KPA with losses exceeding $100,000 since the funds were withdrawn after the shows had already taken place.
KPA alerted the FBI and submitted transaction records, including customer names, emails, and IP addresses connected to the stolen card data.
Although Oduntan attempted to hide behind VPNs, agents traced the flow of money to PayPal accounts, which were later linked to his personal bank accounts.
Special Agent Daniel W. Heath uncovered multiple transactions between three StubHub profiles and PayPal accounts tied to Oduntan. Several emails were connected to a PayPal account—52254838476591*—including fenandexadex@gmail.com, romanslady001@gmail.com, romanslady00@gmail.com, and samesonbar@gmail.com.
Further investigation revealed that before the Wicked run, between January 2023 and July 2024, roughly $350,000 had been moved from StubHub to PayPal accounts operated by Oduntan and an accomplice. The money was then funneled into his Revolut and Allied Irish Bank accounts in Ireland.
Court documents filed on August 7 noted: “PayPal records obtained through legal process confirmed that Oduntan deposited nearly $350,000 from StubHub into PayPal during the specified period.”
When Oduntan later applied for a U.S. visa, the phone number he listed matched one used for fraudulent transactions tied to his PayPal accounts.
After securing an arrest warrant from Magistrate Judge Regina S. Edward, the FBI waited until Oduntan traveled to the U.S. in late August. Upon arrival, he was taken into custody and is being held at Grayson County Detention Center after entering a not-guilty plea.
He was formally indicted on September 3, and his trial is scheduled to begin on November 10.
