The police in Lagos yesterday arrested a dismissed operative, John Oduh, for allegedly parading himself as an officer.
He was arrested at Ilasamaja in an old police uniform, while escorting some goods-laden heavy duty vehicles.
The suspect, it was gathered, was dismissed in 2013 from the Ondo State Command, but relocated to Lagos where he has been parading himself as an officer.
Lagos command’s spokesperson Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP), urged residents to stop engaging the services of roadside policemen.
She said: “The command wishes to use this opportunity to advise members of the public who engage the services of people who impersonate policemen along the highways to desist from such as it is inimical to the protection of lives and property.
“The command will not tolerate regime of impersonators in the state. You are advised to always seek for police protection/services from the police station/formation nearest to you, please.”
The Cross River Police Command Thursday paraded a man impersonating a police officer, Idongesit Effiong, 29, for allegedly raping a 23 year old girl.
Effiong was arrested by men of the police command on the 17 of January 2016 at Ekorinim area of Calabar Municipality, according to the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr John Eluu.
Eluu, said that the victim was raped by Effiong and his two friends who are now at large on the 17th of January at an uncompleted building in Ekorinim.
“On the 17 of January 2016, One Esther Etete, came to the command with a case of an alleged rape.
“She complained that she was raped by three men at Ekorinim area of Calabar Municipality.
“Immediately after taking down her statement, men of the police swung into action and we able to arrest one Idongesit Effiong while two of his friends ran away on sighting us.
“Effiong was arrested with fake police uniform. Further investigation shows that he has been using this fake police uniform to commit heinous crimes in the area’’, he said.
According to the PPRO, the police were on the search for the other two suspects.
Also, the police also paraded one Emmanuel Eyo, 23, and Monachi Igbo, 18, for unlawful possession of fire arms.
The PPRO said that the suspects were using the arms to terrorise resident at Ekpo Abasi area of Calabar South.
He further said that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.
A 48-year-old Property Developer, Olorunfemi Bamidele, who allegedly forged the signature of one Ikolo Yusuf in order to secure a building project, was on Wednesday arraigned in Lagos.
Bamidele, who resides at No. 12, Efon Alaye Str. Ijaiye Ojokoro, Lagos, is facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and impersonation before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 25, 2011, at No. 64, Clem Road, Ijaiye, Lagos.
He said that the accused conspired with another at large and forged Yusuf’s signature and used his company’s forged letter-headed paper to secure the project.
“In 2010, one Mrs Lasisi called Yusuf to develop a building for her but due to lack of funds he could not take the contract.
“The accused then went to Lasisi in 2011 to secure the project without the complainant’s knowledge, using his company’s name- Muraine Projects.
“Bamidele prepared an agreement, wrote the complainant’s name on it and forged his signature without his consent.
“Unfortunately for the accused, the acceptance letter was sent to the complainant by Lasisi’s lawyer.
“Yusuf reported the matter to the police who traced the forged documents to the accused,’’ he said.
Donny said the offences contravened Sections 318,363,364,380 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 363 provides a three -year jail term for offenders.
The Senior Magistrate, Mr. J.A. Adegun, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000, with two sureties in like sum.\
A man who was released from prison in April has been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly impersonating the police.
Mr. Abdul Makong, 32, a native of Gari-Lamido in Taraba State, was said to be passing himself off as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).
The suspect was previously convicted and imprisoned for the same offence but regained freedom in April 2015.
Makong told TheNation that he was a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, where he obtained a degree certificate in Political Science in 2008.
He also claimed to have been forced into crime because he could not get a gainful employment opportunity after his graduation some.
Furthermore, he said that a friend of his, whom he did not mention, lured him into impersonation.
The Nation gathered that his arrest followed a tip-off from good-spirited individuals in the state.
It was gathered that the fake police officer had gone to the palace of a traditional ruler in Awka-South Local Government Area of the state, urging the people to bring some money so that he could recruit interested members into the force.
It was said that he had been going about extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public to assist them with recruitment into the police.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hosea Hassan Karma told The Nation that the suspect was convicted in 2013 for the same offence.
He further said that his command had equally arrested 43 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
•The suspect, Makong
He warned members of the public to beware of the likes of Makong, adding that recruitment into the Nigeria police force is transparent process devoid of any corrupt manipulation.
The Assistant Inspector General Of Police (AIG) in charge of zone 9 Umuahia, Usman Gwary had visited Anambra on the said day.
Gwary said he was in the state in response to the directive of the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase that he should tour police headquarters in the zone to lecture them on the new security policy of the current administration.
South East zone from the recent investigation conducted by a special team set up by the IG, was rated among the most peaceful zones in the country.
Gwary warned officers and men of the state command not to condone act that would compromise peaceful security atmosphere prevailing in the state.
Furthermore, he warned them to ensure that they do not allow MASSOB members to disturb the prevailing peaceful atmosphere in the state.
However, he commended the state police command in its efforts in flushing out criminal elements from the area.
Again, the Police boss urged them to adopt religiously the various security policies marshaled out by the IG.
He also called on the police command to work seriously in collaboration with other sister agencies, while commending the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano for the various forms of support his administration had given the police command.
The AIG said, “Since we can’t thank Governor Obiano enough, all we shall do is to continue thanking him.”
For allegedly impersonating a Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, 26-year-old Alao Akojiime was Tuesday arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere.
He is facing a four count charge of conspiracy, fraud and impersonation under Sections 409, 312, 285 and 378 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.
The defendant was said to have presented himself as the Customs boss, Peter Akande on August 12, in order to defraud a job seeker, Samuel Eze.
He was said to have obtained N33, 300 from Eze under the pretence of securing him a job with the Nigerian Customs Service.
Prosecuting Inspector Haruna Ibrahim told the Magistrate F.F. George presided court that the defendant also advertises and auctions vehicles using Customs all to defraud people.
He alleged that aside the money obtained from Eze, the defendant has defrauded several others in the guise of obtaining recruitment forms into the service.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and was admitted to bail in N50, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The matter has been fixed for October 2, for mention.
The police yesterday arraigned one Blessing Edmond before an Isolo Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for alleged impersonation as a lawyer.
Prosecuting Officer Oluwasayo Ajayi said the accused last October at a fast food joint in Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos obtained the sum of N513,000 from one Onyinye Eze pretending to be a legal practitioner with license to practice in Nigeria and other African countries.
According to Ajayi, Edmond promised to help Eze bail her brother from Ghana Police custody.
The prosecutor said the accused fraudulently obtained another N120,000 cash and also the sum of N513,000 worth of property with false pretence of been a lawyer, from the same victim.
He is standing trial on a five-count charge.
Ajayi said the offence contravened Sections 378, 312, 278 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate A.O Adebayo granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties.
The Nigeria Police Force Tuesday paraded a fake doctor for impersonation and other offences.
Until his arrest, the suspect, Martins Ugwu Okpe, a level 13 officer had worked in the Federal Ministry of Health as a Medical Doctor impersonating his friend who is a medical doctor, Dr. George Davidson Daniel for nine years.
The Federal Civil Service Commission had asked the IG to initiate the process of investigation and prosecution of Martin Ogwu Okpe after discovering that he gained access into the Civil Service impersonating his friend.
The 44 year old suspect, who hails from Benue State, admitted that he never attended any higher institution.
He however claimed that he impersonated his friend because he wanted to uncover the mess in the health sector.
The suspect who was paraded at the Force headquarters in Abuja is expected to be charged to a court in few days time.
According to the Deputy Force Spokesman, Abayomi Shogunle, “Okpe a native of Ogbadibo LGA of Benue state dishonestly took away copies of the academic credentials of a friend named George Davidson Daniel, a medical doctor practicing in Jos without his knowledge and used same to secure appointment with the Federal ministry of Health in Abuja claiming his identity since 2006.
“He has been parading himself as medical doctor in the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja for almost one decade and was among medical volunteers trained by the ministry in conjunction with the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) in Liberia.
Shogunle added: “Martins Ugwu Okpe would soon be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction for the offences of theft, impersonating a medical doctor, wearing and carrying token used by medical doctors, dishonestly receiving what he is not due for, framing of incorrect document with intent to cause injury, breach of official trust, criminal intimidation and intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, all in contravention of section 288, 132, 133, 122, 124, 99, 398 and 399 respectively of Penal Code laws of the federal republic of Nigeria.”
The Force however advised Nigerians to ensure diligence in keeping valuable documents to avoid falling prey to unscrupulous elements.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating 10 stockbroking firms and 12 individual stockbrokers and officials as part of a large-scale crackdown on shares fraud that has seen 31 stockbroking firms and several stockbrokers internally investigated and sanctioned by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) over the past 42 months.
Two official reports on shares fraud, also known as unauthorised sales of investors’ shares, obtained at the weekend by The Nation indicated that the NSE, Nigeria’s only stock exchange, had invited the EFCC to further investigate and prosecute 12 stockbroking firms and 21 stockbrokers and officials, who were primarily indicted by the internal investigations of criminal financial fraud.
The EFCC has already concluded investigations and charged two stockbroking firms and nine persons to court while the anti-fraud agency is currently investigating 10 stockbroking firms and 12 persons connected with the firms or individually cited for shares fraud.
All the cases referred to the EFCC were initially investigated and indicted by the Disciplinary Committee of the Council of the Exchange, NSE’s adjudicatory body which deals with heinous market infractions and investors’ complaints.
The reports indicated that the all the firms and officials were allegedly indicted by the disciplinary committee for unauthorised sale of investors’ shares while some others were also indicted for issuance of dud cheques, impersonation and illegal conversion of dividend warrants.
An official of the NSE at the weekend confirmed the cases under investigation by the EFCC, noting that the two reports were up to date and accurately represented the state of affairs as at press time.
The investigations and prosecutions by the EFCC highlighted the anti-fraud campaign at the stock market to checkmate hard-pressed stockbroking firms and unscrupulous officials, who fiddled with investors’ shares.
A report on shares fraud over the past 42 months indicated that 31 firms were investigated for unauthorised sale of shares. The report by the NSE covered the period between January 2012 and June 15, 2015.
The report showed that nearly half of the shares frauds have been completed and the indicted stockbroking firms made to restitute the investors, a general reference to order to buy back the shares or pay the investor the value of the shares and all his entitlements.
According to the report, 15 stockbroking firms and four individuals have pending cases, although the NSE has taken preemptive measure of suspending the stockbroking firms and stockbrokers. The pending cases have been referred to the disciplinary committee of the council of the NSE.
Among the stockbroking firms under EFCC investigation are Lakesworth Securities Limited, Byfotel Trust & Securities Limited, Gosord Securities Limited, Securities Solutions Limited, ITIS Securities Limited, Mact Securities Limited, Giljohn Investment Limited, First Equity Securities Limited, Omas Investment & Trust Limited and Mayfield Investment Limited.
The report also listed the names of 12 officials that are also being investigated.
The NSE had launched an online whistleblowing portal through which investors and other stakeholders can tip off the Exchange on perceived or known infractions.
The online portal, known as X-Whistle, allows members of the public to submit information without disclosing their identity while it also provides reference that allows the whistleblower to track NSE’s response and investigation on the tip off.
A 52-year-old man, Ikechukwu Ubana, has been arraigned before the Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonating an Army Lieutenant.
The charge reads: “That you Ikechukwu Ugbana on March 30 at about 8am at Ikorodu Road Mile 12 Lagos in Ikeja Magisterial District did impersonate to be a serving Lieutenant of the Nigeria Army by showing an identity card no: 53245 with F/No NA/53/245 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 77 (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State.
“That you Ikechukwu Ugbana on the same date, time and in the above mentioned Magisterial District did unlawfully be in possession of identity card with Nigerian Army Logo, bearing Captain Nwoseh Ifeoma F/No NA 251998, card no. 580690 and Ugbana Identity card no. 53245, F/NO. NA/53/245 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 328 (d) of the criminal Law of Lagos State.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Akeem Fashola granted him N100, 000 bail with one surety in the like sum.
He ordered that the surety must be the defendant’s relation and must show evidence of tax payment for three years.
Magistrate Fashola adjourned the matter till April 28.
Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha warned at the weekend, the sacked traditional ruler of Obinugu community in Orlu Local Government, Mr. Cletus Ilomuanya, against impersonation.
He said his dethronement was backed by laws, adding that he would be sanctioned if he violated the laws.
The governor, who said peace returned to the community after the removal of the traditional ruler, contrary to media reports, added that there would be no sacred cow in his administration’s effort to sanitise the state.
His words: “I don’t believe in no-go areas. Any person or institution working against the interest of the state will be dealt with, irrespective of his or her status.”
Speaking during a breakfast meeting with reporters at the Government House, Owerri, Okorocha said: “I don’t know why a dethroned monarch should still be parading himself as a king. If you go to the community today, the people are happy because they are free from the despotic leadership of Ilomuanya and are happy with the government.”
He blamed the former governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, for foisting the dethroned monarch on the community.
The governor said: “Ilomuanya found his way to the throne because of Udenwa’s weakness. People believe there are institutions that cannot be touched, but it is not so with me. Ilomuanaya has ceased to be a traditional ruler and should no longer be addressed as such.
“Henceforth, any person addressing him as such will be prosecuted. He reported to the Presidency that I dethroned him because he supported President Goodluck Jonathan. But I am not bothered by his lies.”
