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Tag: sss

  • SSS seizes arms in Port Harcourt

    SSS seizes arms in Port Harcourt

    State Security Service (SSS) operatives intercepted yesterday high-calibre ammunition in a 20-foot container at the Port Harcourt Port in Rivers State.

    The interception of the ammunition raises fears of impending violence in the state ahead of the 2015 elections.

    Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi raised the alarm on the return of militants to the state after a rally by the Save Rivers Movement (SRM) —a group loyal to him— was smashed in Bori, Khana Local Government Area, three weeks ago.

    The vessel carrying the lethal cargo, MV Iron Trader, came from Panama in Central America.

    The captain is under arrest. Also being held are the agent and six crew members. They were undergoing interrogation at the SSS office in the oil city last night.

    The container was being guarded yesterday by a combined team of SSS operatives, soldiers and policemen.

    It was gathered through a security source that the intercepted ammunition was packed in many iron boxes in the container.

    The source said: “The interrogation of the eight arrested persons is ongoing to determine the consignee and the destination of the seized items.”

    Senior officials of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in Port Harcourt declined to comment on the “sensitive” issue yesterday.

    The SSS’s interception of the ammunition is coming at a time militants have been let loose in the state, shooting, killing and maiming, with the police, led by Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu, seeming helpless.

    The Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, who is the grand patron of the Grassroots Development Initiative (GDI) – the organisation pushing his governorship ambition – also declared at its rally in Degema-Kalabari, the headquarters of Degema Local Government Area — on January 19 that Amaechi would not know peace, until he resigns.

    Amaechi, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), however, declared that he would remain focused and complete his tenure in 2015 “by God’s grace” and that his successor would be decided by the Rivers people.

    The NGF chairman also expressed surprise that the militants he used the military to chase away in 2007, when he assumed office, were returning to the state. He said those he described as the “Abuja forces” are behind insecurity in the state.

  • Why SSS is after me, by El-Rufai

    Why SSS is after me, by El-Rufai

    •Ex-FCT minister at security agency’s office

    All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Secretary Nasir El-Rufai, has said State Security Services (SSS) operatives are after him because he sued them for unlawful detention in Awka, during last November’s Anambra State governorship election.

    The SSS invited the former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister to clarify his comment that there would be violence if the 2015 elections are rigged.

    Party officials and reporters stormed his home in Asokoro District of Abuja yesterday, at 8am, to see the loquacious politician.

    Clad in a white kaftan and a black cap, the former minister returned to his home at 8.17am.

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi drove into the premises.

    After El-Rufai addressed reporters at 8.50am, Amaechi drove him in a grey BMW Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with registration No. (Plateau) AH358LGT. On the passenger seat was Senator Chris Ngige.

    Other sympathisers and party faithful drove behind them to the SSS headquarters in Maitama.

    At the SSS headquarters, only El-Rufai, his wife, lawyer and Ameachi were allowed into the inner office. Curious reporters watched from the opposite end of the street.

    At 9.58am, SSS operatives ordered the reporters to leave the vicinity “in their interest”. Some left. Others waited.

    El-Rufai said his sin was that he demanded that elections be free and fair.

    According to him, his persecution by the SSS is all about the 2015 elections.

    The former minister said there was nothing wrong or new about his comment because the nation’s history is replete with post-election violence.

    Citing instances of post-election violence, the APC chieftain recalled that there were crises after the 1964, 1983, 1993 and 2011 elections.

    El-Rufai said the Federal Government planned to silence whoever opposes the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) plans to rig next year.

    The former minister stressed that he would speak out until elections are free and fair.

    He said: “I think it’s because I sued the SSS for detaining me unlawfully in Awka during the governorship poll. I think that is the main reason. Of course, I think they have found other reasons because there is nothing I said that history has not shown.

    “I said the election should be free and fair. If they are not free and fair, there is likely going to be violence. These are certain facts; at least four times in history – in 1964, 1983, 1993 and 2011. So, what is strange about that? Any person who doesn’t know these does not know history or he is just ignoring history.

    “This is all about 2015. This is just to intimidate and silence the opposition against crying out that the elections are likely to be rigged by the PDP. I will continue to speak and they can continue to arrest me until we get free and fair elections in Nigeria.”

    El-Rufai said he declined arrest at the weekend since the SSS had no warrant.

    The former minister explained that his lawyer, yesterday, notified him that security operatives were in possession of a warrant of arrest.

    According to him, the SSS has no power to force him into their office since the constitution empowers him to make a statement.

    Describing his invitation as an embarrassment, the former minister added that “embarrassment is part of life.”

    El-Rufai noted that whoever contravenes the law must face the consequences.

    “I believe the SSS has no power to compel me to go to their office because of the statement I have a right under the constitution to make.

    “Look, embarrassment is part of life. It does not matter; embarrassment is part of life. All I want to say is that whoever violates the law or does anything against the constitution should face the consequences. We will pursue our rights in court and in the court of public opinion.”

     

     

     

     

     

    Amaechi said the APC directed him to escort el-Rufai to the SSS office.

    Asked whether the persecution of the former minister was about next year’s elections, the governor said the PDP would not willingly cede power to the opposition.

    Ameachi explained that the ruling party would rather resort to fighting the opposition with intimidating institutions, including the SSS.

    On the political crisis in Rivers State, the governor said he was grateful to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for giving the people the freedom to hold rallies.

    He said the police chief had acknowledged the abnormality in the state and deployed an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and a Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) in the state.

    Amaechi said all he wanted was for the parties to abide by the law.

    He said: “I am not involved. I am just directed by the party to escort Mallam el-Rufai to the place. But you know you don’t expect that the government or the PDP will willingly cede power. They will fight with all means. This is one of the institutions they will use to fight anybody who will take power from them.

    “We didn’t say things are getting to normal. We said for the first time, we should thank the Inspector-General of Police for allowing us the freedom to hold rallies without an abuse. We thank him for that; not the Commissioner of Police.

    “That’s because I heard there was an AIG and a DIG for them to send. That means it is abnormal. It means they have acknowledged that the Commissioner of Police is not good. For them to send the DIG and a DIG… the implication is that things are abnormal.

    “Unfortunately, I was not born to be intimidated. So, they better leave the intimidation and let’s do the right thing.”

    The governor left the SSS headquarters before noon while Ngige left at 1.50pm.

     

  • CNPP berates SSS for querying ex-FCT minister

    CNPP berates SSS for querying ex-FCT minister

    The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday condemned the State Security Service (SSS) for questioning former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai.

    The CNPP described the action as bias and unfair.

    It added that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, had made similar statements, like many notable Nigerians, who had not been summoned.

    The CNPP urged the SSS to “restrain in making mountains out of mole hills and embarking on selective amnesia, which casts our security agencies in partisan colours”.

    In a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the conference said: “The CNPP has read carefully the statement credited to Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, in which he said there would be violence, if the 2015 elections are not credible, free and fair.

    “We are at a loss how this nimble conditional statement constitutes security threat and is rated weighty enough to attract the attention of the Directorate of State Service {DSS} to arrest him.

    “In our candid view, it smacks of selective justice and gives credence to the watch list, which former President Olusegun Obasanjo harped on in his letter to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “We hope we are not sliding back to the dark days of dictatorship, when a watch list would drift into a hit list!

     

    “Otherwise, what is harmful in the speech, when it sounds like a rapid response to the explosive pessimistic statement made by the Chief Electoral Officer of the federation, Prof Attahiru Jega, few days earlier that the 2015 elections will not be perfect? It’s a speech couched as if the hurdles before INEC are insurmountable and, therefore, a good excuse to rig the elections. Then argue after the havoc that ‘I told you before’.

    “Or, can we easily forget the explosive statements by the former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, that stopping President Jonathan in 2015 will have grave consequences? Nor the ones by Alhaji Asari Dokubo and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, all President’s men?

    “Yet, we have no record that any of them has been hounded by the DSS.”

     

     

  • SSS men invade el-Rufai’s home

    SSS men invade el-Rufai’s home

    •Ex-minister: I can’t be intimidated      •SSS: we have warrant of arrest

    Operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) twice stormed the Abuja residence of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday to effect his arrest.

    The invasions followed alleged refusal of el-Rufai to honour an invitation from the SSS over what it called inciting comments by him.

    The operatives waited for several hours during their first invasion and left at about 5.30pm without their target.

    They returned a few hours later,this time apparently determined to vent their fury on whoever they wanted.

    On their arrival they reportedly pounced on el-Rufai’s watchmen beating them.

    The Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not at home on each occasion.

    The el-Rufais, it was gathered, had shut the gate of the 12 Mambilla Street, Maitama District residence following desperate calls to friends and relations.

    Journalists, acting on a tip-off, had laid siege to the street to cover the unfolding drama.

    The security operatives left after confirming that their target was unavailable.

    The SSS claimed that el-Rufai’s warning that the 2015 elections might be violent was inciting.

    Twenty-four hours before the invasion he had tweeted: “If the SSS wishes to see me in their office,they should obtain a warrant of a High Court as required by law and arrest me stating charges.”

    In another tweet,he said: “When Jonathanians threaten us, the SSS is silent. When opposition figures state facts,they are invited. I have declined the invitation.”

    A source in the family said: “The SSS men came twice looking for our father, who was away for some engagements. I think daddy went to see some friends and pick children from school.

    “They insisted on knowing his whereabouts but we could not be of help. They later left.”

    Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye, Media Advisor to Mallam el-Rufai, said the ex-Minister insisted that he cannot be silenced.

    He said the SSS agents did not produce any warrant to support their invasion of his premises.

    He said the invasion of the house amounted to another violation of his right by the SSS.

    His words: “Armed SSS officials on Friday stormed the Abuja residence of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. This follows his rejection of the attempt by the SSS to compel him to come to their offices without a valid warrant.

    “El Rufai had on Thursday firmly told the DG SSS that he would be exercising his right not to go to the SSS offices, except a warrant mandates it.

    “He however offered to meet the SSS officials in his home or office. The armed invasion of his house is a clear indication that the SSS imagines itself as an agency immune from respecting fundamental rights, behaviour akin to a gathering of toughs before whom every citizen must quake.

    “The SSS agents did not produce any warrant to back their invasion of his premises.”

    Adekeye recalled previous alleged violation of el-Rufai’s rights by the SSS,saying: “The assault on el-Rufai’s house continues a sorry tradition of serial violation of his rights by the SSS which has arrested him at airports and hotels. The most recent was the action of the SSS in violating his right to freedom of movement in Awka during the Anambra elections.

    “Without any just cause or formal charge, the Directorate of State Security Services (SSS) had unlawfully detained el-Rufai, the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the premises of Finotel Hotel, Akwa, Anambra State, from the 15th day of November, 2013 to the 16th day of November, 2013.

    “During the period, Mallam el-Rufai was not only restricted to the Finotel Hotel, he was denied access to his congregational prayer as a devout Muslim; and kept incommunicado without access to anyone and or the press.

    “To remedy the flagrant violation of El Rufai’s fundamental rights as enshrined in sections 35, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution, El Rufai has sued the SSS over this matter, seeking eight reliefs, including an injunction to restrain the SSS from further infringing on his fundamental rights.

    “He is also praying the court for a declaration that the SSS has no powers under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) or under any Nigerian law to either impose a general restriction on movement or restrict el-Rufai’s constitutional right of freedom of movement as enshrined in Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution on account of the Anambra State Gubernatorial election that took place on the 16th day of November, 2013 or any other election.

    “Proceedings in the case against the SSS began on Thursday, 16 January at the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State. Mr C.C. Nwaokorie, counsel for the respondents, informed the court that they had only received the processes the previous day. The records of the Court indicated that they had been served in good time. The court adjourned to 19 February 2014 for hearing of the matter.

    “The SSS is advised to diligently attend to this pending matter. Mallam el-Rufai will not be silenced.

    “He will continue to do his patriotic duty of challenging INEC and the security agencies to guarantee the climate for free and fair elections in Nigeria by desisting from partisanship and the embrace of impunity.”

    Clarifying its position last night,the Security Service said it had a warrant to arrest el-Rufai and that it was not in any way witch-hunting him.

    Deputy Director (Public Relations) of the security outfit, Merylin Ogar, said there will be no waiver for el-Rufai.

    Ogar said: “el-Rufai has to come and explain his statement to us or else we will arrest him. We have the warrant of arrest now, we will arrest him.

    “The time for any human being to play pranks with the SSS has passed. Why is el-Rufai running away?”

    Asked why the SSS was infringing on his rights, Ogar said: “We are not witch-hunting or infringing on his rights in any manner. el-Rufai made a few statements, we invited him to come and clarify what he said in line with our mandate to protect lives and property.

    “If el-Rufai claims his statements were put in the wrong perspective by the media, we decided to give him an opportunity to clear the air. Is it wrong to hear from el-Rufai too?

  • Group petitions police, SSS over attempted abduction

    A human rights group, the Access to Justice (AJ), has petitioned Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar (IGP) over alleged suppression of police investigation into the attempted abduction of a Port Harcourt resident Mr Arthur Judah by the police in Rivers State.

    The petition, signed by the group’s Legal Programme Attorney, Mrs Destina Dalumo, was also sent to the Director of the State Security Service (SSS), the Governor of Rivers State, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Chairman, Police Service Commission and the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 6, Calabar, Cross River State.

    The group said their client’s life is in danger, urging the security authorities to intervene.

    “Our client is convinced that his life is no longer safe in Port Harcourt. We are in the circumstances requesting that you use your good office to call for the case file and to re-assign the investigation of this matter to a credible police officer and police unit capable of conducting investigations into this matter with integrity,” the group wrote.

    Judah alleged that the police in Rivers abused their powers in obstructing and, ultimately, suppressing criminal investigations into an attempt to abduct him.

    AJ said sometimes in October, last year, Judah got some strange calls with the caller refusing to divulge his identity.

    The caller later said his name was “Chief Ezego”, claiming he was Judah’s deceased father’s friend who entrusted him (Chief Ezego) with some inheritance to deliver to Judah.

    It turned out the claim was false, and the “chief” was later discovered be masterminding Judah’s abduction.

    Police officers told Judah to play along and meet with the chief. He and his co-conspirators were arrested, only to be released a few hours later purportedly on the order of Rivers Commissioner of Police. AJ said the men were released when the police had not even had the chance to interview them or begin any investigation.

    “Our client was stunned as to how the attempt to abduct/kidnap him could be treated so lightly by a Police Commissioner.

    “Our client was also informed that the Rivers CP directed that the case file be transferred to his office and he asked the parties (the complainant and the suspects) to visit his office the next day, November 4, 2013.

    “On the afore-mentioned date, our client arrived at the CP’s office in the early hours of the morning with the police officers who went for the arrest and they were in the CP’s office till evening with no one attending to them.

    “Incidentally the crime suspects were not present for the said meeting. At the close of the day, police officers in the office of the CP asked our client and the police officers with him to return the next day.

    “However, to everyone’s amazement, the police officers who went for the arrest were arrested and detained for reasons only known to the CP.

    “Subsequently, the CP immediately transferred each of them to different police stations outside Port Harcourt.

    “Some persons within the law enforcement community conversant with the developments advised our client to immediately leave Port Harcourt …

    “We urge you to take urgent and adequate measures to save our client’s life and provide needed security for him.

    “We urge your urgent intervention in this regard as we look forward to a more transparent and impartial investigation of the case,” AJ wrote.

     

     

  • Apo killings: Victims want N500m compensation

    Victims of the September 20, 2013 killings in Apo, Abuja, have demanded for N500million compensation from the Federal Government.

    The Chairman, Governing Board of National Human Rights Commission, Chidi Odinkalu, made this known on Wednesday at the public hearing organised by the commission.

    Odinkalu said the demand was made by National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria on behalf of the victims in the course of the commission’s investigation.

    The chairman sought to know from the State Security Service (SSS) if it was ready to pay compensation to victims.

    Responding, Counsel to SSS, Mr. Charles Osagie, said SSS had no problem compensating victims.

    He, however, said that it would depend on the verification that victims were innocent and that they were hit by bullet from security operatives.

    “We need to first ascertain and determine whether those people who were killed were actually innocent individuals. That is the first step.

    “Until you reach that conclusion, you cannot be talking about compensation or damages, and on the very day of the operation even after the shooting was over we did make some arrests.

    “So, it is difficult for anybody to be conclusive until a thorough investigation is carried out.

    “It is also necessary to ascertain the culpability of the individuals that died at the incident to determine their link to Suleiman, who is at large,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the counsel as saying at the hearing.

    He said it was difficult to ascertain if victims were innocent, given the manner in which they were buried.

    He also said the institution would only take responsibility when it could be ascertained that victims were killed by bullet from security operatives.

     

     

  • Court restrains police, SSS, NDLEA from arresting Ogun PDP chieftain

    Court restrains police, SSS, NDLEA from arresting Ogun PDP chieftain

    Justice Okong Abang of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, yesterday restrained the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and the State Security Services (SSS) from arresting a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, on the basis of a petition written against him.

    Justice Abang restrained the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel from prosecuting the applicants.

    He awarded N50,000 cost against Daniel.

    In an originating motion, Kashamu sought a declaration that the allegations contained in a petition dated December 18, 2009, by a group, the Concerned Citizens of Ogun State, to the police, SSS, Customs and NDLEA are false.

    In the petition, the group alleged that Kashamu was investigated by the United States (U.S.) FBI for narcotic smuggling and related offences; was indicted by a grand jury in the U.S. and was declared a fugitive by a U.S. Federal High Court.

    The applicant said the allegations were subjects of previous investigation by the International Police (Interpol) and litigation in competent courts, where he was exonerated.

    Kashamu said the allegations were “rehashed” by his political opponents, allegedly led by Daniel, “in a maliciously contrived attempt to breach his fundamental right to liberty and freedom of association”.

    He said the petition was written to instigate the first to fifth respondents to arrest, detain and humiliate him “through malicious criminal prosecution” and to neutralise him “as a perceived threat to the sixth respondent’s (Daniel’s) political designs in Ogun State.”

    Justice Abang held that going by the facts before him, there was no evidence that the applicant committed any of the offences mentioned in “the ill-motivated” petition.

    He said: “I think the court can restrain the first to fifth defendants from acting on the petition, which may lead to the violation of the applicant’s fundamental rights to personal liberty and freedom of movement.”

    Justice Abang said his restraining of the police was an exception to the principle that the force cannot be restrained from carrying out its constitutional responsibility.

    He said: “The findings made in this case are based on peculiar facts and circumstances. The court expected Daniel to come forward and prove the allegations made by him against the applicant, but that is not the case.

    “Upon being served the court processes, Daniel briefed a counsel that appeared in court once and abandoned the proceeding. I think the suit of the applicant deserves to succeed.”

  • Pastor, kids, others, held for printing naira notes

    Pastor, kids, others, held for printing naira notes

    A self-styled pastor was yesterday paraded along with 15 others for allegedly printing and circulating fake naira notes.

    Kogi State Director of State Security Service (SSS) Mike Fubara, who paraded the suspects, said six of them are Pastor Godson Akubuiro’s children.

    Akubuiro, 49, is the General Overseer of The Mountain of Breakthrough Deliverance Ministry, also known as Land of Solution, located at Plot 7, Koya Estate, Igbo Olomu, Agric, Ikorodu, Lagos from where he and other suspects were arrested. The “pastor” hails from Imo State.

    Fubara said the SSS began investigation four months ago to trace the source of the “‘worrisome fake naira currency in circulation in Kogi state to uncover those behind the act’’.

    ‘’This operation took the service close to four months before a breakthrough resulting in the arrest of the 16-man syndicate led by Rev. Godson O. Akubuiro,” he said

    Items recovered from the suspects include equipment and materials used in printing fake currencies, a large quantity of printed fake notes, cut to size blank currency notes and N1.3 million fake naira notes.

    There were also photocopier machines and different colours of oil paints.

    Akubuiro, admitted the crime before reporters, saying he was “an ordained man of God” until the devil overwhelmed him.

    He admitted that he had been involved in the criminal activity since November 2012 in his house, along with his family members.

    Akubuiro said he was not using the money for himself but in support of the less-privileged and the needy in his congregation.

    He pleaded for leniency, saying men of God were often tempted like King David in the Bible, who though a man after God’s heart, fell many times yet was pardoned by God.

    Fubara urged the public to be wary of the fake naira notes in circulation and report suspects to security agents.

  • SSS parades Air Force man, six others for kidnapping

    SSS parades Air Force man, six others for kidnapping

    The State Security Service (SSS) yesterday paraded an Air Force Lance Corporal, Suleiman Mohammed, and six of his accomplices for kidnapping a Sokoto businessman, Alhaji Abu Dankure.

    Alhaji Dankure was abducted at his construction site in Kofar Kwari, Western Bye-Pass on November 6. He died on November 22, 11 days after he was freed by his captors.

    The Air Force man confessed to have aided the gang members in the supply of fire arms and ammunition, but said he was not directly involved in the kidnapping.

    Others paraded by the SSS were Mustapha Isah, Mohammed Abubakar, Faruku Waziri, Mohammed Bukar, Usman Idah and Abdullahi Musa.

    SSS spokesperson Ms. Marilyn Ogar, who paraded the suspects, named Isah as the mastermind of the kidnap who negotiated and received a of $290, 000 ransom before the victim was released.

    Isah, who took custody of the victim during captivity, was said to have provided his car, a Honda Hennessy with which the suspects carried out the operation.

    Ogar said an AK 47 rifle, pump action rifle and a short gun were recovered from Isah.

    The gang members were said to have shared the ransom money at Court Yard Hotel, GRA, Benin City, Edo State.

    Ogar said the suspects would soon be charged to court.

  • Police smash four-man gang in dividend warrants scam

    Police smash four-man gang in dividend warrants scam

    •One arrested for duping applicants

    Anambra State Command of the State Security Service (SSS) has arrested four persons, who allegedly specialise in diverting and cashing the dividend warrants of unsuspecting shareholders.

    Among their victims are Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Prof. Ifedayo Olawale Oladipo, Rev. Uma Ukpai, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Oando Plc, among others.

    The suspects are Cletus Chris Ohaegbulem (aka Chris Ohams), Emmanuel Mbakwe, Yahaya Anifowoshe and Mojeed Babatunde.

    They were arrested by the command in Lagos, Asaba in Delta State and Umuahia in Abia State.

    Also apprehended was a 30-year-old suspect, Chukwunonso Emeghalu, from Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, for allegedly duping people, promising to help them get employment in the SSS.

    Parading the suspects yesterday, the State Director of SSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, warned the public to be wary of fraudsters claiming to be agents of any organisation or working for the SSS, either in the state or elsewhere.

    He said the four suspects specialised in stealing the dividend warrants of unsuspecting shareholders from NIPOST, Falomo, Lagos, and cashing them in banks.

    Okeiyi said they would be handed over to the relevant agency for investigation.

    He said Ohaegbulem (43) from Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State had been a notorious fraudster, who maintained multiple identities, which he used in opening fictitious bank accounts to dupe unsuspecting victims before he was arrested in Asaba.

    Okeiyi said 194 dividend warrants belonging to unsuspecting shareholders were recovered from him, among them that of Rev Uma Ukpai.

    Answering reporters’ questions, Ohaegbulem confessed to have connived with the manager of a micro-finance bank in Umuahia , now at large and the operations manager to cash the dividend warrants through a spurious company, Access Enterprises Ltd, which he set up to perpetrate the act.

    He also confessed to have swindled many through non-existent contracts in the Ebonyi State Government House, Abakaliki, posing as a top official of the government.

    Anifowoshe (45), a trader on Lagos Island, said he supplied dividend warrants to Ohaegbulem.

    He told reporters that he was approached by Mr. Chisom last year to source dividend warrants for him. This, according to him, made him approach Mosheed Babatunde, a NIPOST, Falomo, Lagos worker to source items and compensations were paid to him.