Federal authorities have arrested Edikan Adiakpan, a 33-year-old Houston entrepreneur and co-founder of luxury lifestyle brand Akama Lifestyle, for his alleged role in a multimillion-dollar business email compromise and money laundering scheme spanning at least eight U.S. states.
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U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced the arrest Thursday, confirming that Adiakpan will make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston.
A federal grand jury indicted Adiakpan on June 11, 2025, on three felony counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and illegal money transmission. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the first two charges and up to five years for the third. Each count also carries a maximum fine of $250,000.
Prosecutors allege that Adiakpan and co-conspirators used fake or “spoofed” emails to deceive companies—including a California research group dedicated to treating U.S. veterans—into rerouting legitimate payments into accounts controlled by the fraud ring. The scheme reportedly occurred in 2021 and involved companies across at least eight states.
The stolen funds were allegedly funneled through a network of controlled accounts and rapidly converted into cashier’s checks, which Adiakpan is accused of cashing in exchange for a commission.
During a court hearing, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation division stated that Adiakpan’s confession is supported by evidence from financial transactions and witness statements. The investigation is still ongoing.
Another Nigerian citizen, Ayobami Omoniyi, 26, was earlier charged in connection to the same fraud and is currently awaiting sentencing before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen.
Adiakpan, once celebrated for his success story as a Nigerian immigrant who turned a passion for cars into a flourishing business, has been featured in media outlets including ABC13 Houston and L’Officiel Cyprus. His company, Akama Lifestyle, catered to high-net-worth clients with exotic car rentals, luxury chauffeur services, and private jets.
In 2021, Edikan described Akama as “a virtuous lifestyle” brand symbolizing greatness and generosity. He often spoke about philanthropy, saying, “The more successful we are, the more we should focus on giving back.”
Now, Adiakpan finds himself at the center of a major federal prosecution.
While the charges are serious, under U.S. law, Edikan Adiakpan is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Belinda Beek and Christine Lu are leading the prosecution.
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