Nigerian Musician Jailed in U.S. for $140,000 Tax Fraud Scheme

Nigerian musician Onomen Uduebor has been sentenced to three years and four months in a U.S. federal prison for his role in a large-scale tax fraud operation that netted over $140,000.

Uduebor, also known as Onomen Onohi, was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The 39-year-old was arrested in the United Kingdom in September 2023 and extradited to the United States in March 2025. He pleaded guilty the following month.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Uduebor and his co-conspirators targeted Human Resources departments at companies across the U.S., deceiving them into handing over employees’ W-2 tax information. That data was then used to file more than 300 fraudulent tax returns claiming over $1 million in refunds.

Court records show Uduebor personally submitted about 150 of the bogus returns and monitored the payments, which were funneled into bank accounts opened under victims’ names. Although the Internal Revenue Service managed to stop most of the claims, roughly $140,000 was paid out, with Uduebor admitting he pocketed $10,000 himself.

At his sentencing hearing in Seattle, U.S. District Judge James L. Robart said Uduebor played a “substantial role” in the conspiracy, noting he “freely participated in the fraud” and fully understood the damage it would cause.

Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa Gorman emphasized the scheme’s severe impact on employees, companies, and the IRS, pointing out that victims endured financial losses and emotional distress from having their identities stolen and tax refunds delayed.

As part of his sentence, Uduebor must forfeit the $10,000 he earned and repay $122,720 in restitution to the IRS. He will be deported to Nigeria after completing his prison term.