The police have arrested one Terhemba Tsuum (39) for impersonating the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Bello, and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of N38 million.
Parading the suspect at the FCT Police Command, spokesman Anjuguri Manzah said that upon receiving a complaint on the matter, “the Police launched an investigation, and with the deployment of modern technology, we were able to trace the suspect to Benue State, where he was arrested and brought back to the FCT to face the law.”
Manzah seized the opportunity to advise FCT residents and indeed all Nigerians to always “be vigilant and more conscious of people they go into business deals with.
“Always verify, even if it means going to the office to check. Do a proper check before parting with your money, because money is not easy to come by.
“Ensure you are dealing with the right persons, especially when it comes to issues of land.”
He added: “This is a pointer to the fact that the FCT Police Command is alive to its responsibilities and will broaden its investigation and ensure that those who engage in nefarious activities are arrested and charged to court to face the the law.”
According to the statement issued by the minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, the suspect confessed to committing the crimes and regretted that he was unaware of the gravity of the offence, even as he said that he had since refunded almost all the monies to his victims, except a balance of N5 million including the N1.950 million belonging to one Mimi, who reported the case to the police for failure to return her money.
According to him, he returned the monies because his mind was “shaking” and he “could not bear it.”
The only money that is remaining is this girl’s (Mimi) own N1.950 million. Another man gave me N1.3 million, but I paid back only N300,000 in the hope that when business improves, I would return their monies.
“It was when I knew that I was doing something wrong that I started returning all the monies to them.
“I have been in Abuja for close to five years now, but I had not always been in this business. I went into agency business because things were not going well.
“I started using the minister’s name because I thought it is the person people would be convinced about; not that I have any contact or any dealing with him. I don’t even know him and he doesn’t even know me.”
Asked how he was able to convince the people to part with their money, the 39-year-old holder of a Diploma in Theatre Arts said as an agent, his job was to “connect those who have land to sell with buyers and get five per cent.
“I meet them and tell them that I have someone that will help them to get land. Those who are interested would give me their acknowledgement papers while some would give me money to get them the acknowledgements from AGIS.”