The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Suspected fraudster

  • Suspected fraudster arraigned

    A 36-year-old man, Ayo Adeleke, yesterday appeared at an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding an Uber driver of N47, 000.

    Adeleke, whose address was not provided, is charged with fraud, obtaining under false pretences and theft.

    Prosecuting counsel Maria Dauda alleged that the defendant committed the offence last November 19 at 8:40am, on Funsho Williams/Marina Way, Lagos.

    She said the defendant told the complainant, Mutiu Kareem, to transport him to Lekki and asked for a loan of N47, 000, which he promised to pay back when they get to their destination.

    When they got to Lekki, she said the defendant refused to pay the money or pay his fare.

    She said the defendant also stole two phones valued at N110,000 from the complainant.

    The defendant pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Mrs. A. Kusanu granted the defendant N20,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum. She adjourned till June 25.

  • RRS nabs suspected fraudster

    Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested the leader of a four-man fraud syndicate, Chibuzor Osuji.

    A statement by RRS yesterday said Osuji led a four-man fraud syndicate operating in Ikeja, Ojota, Ojodu, Berger, Ogba, College Road and Agege.

    He was reportedly caught after their victim lured him into the waiting hands of police officers after his gang had swindled the 34-year-old woman of N165,000.

    The suspect’s role in the gang, police said, was to prophesy for victims after they must have been lured into their offices at 8, Afolabi Street, Iju Shaga and 7, Salami Street, Oko Oba, Agege.

    The gang was said to have used fake dollars to entrap their victims.

    Osuji allegedly told RRS that his gang members comprising Frank, Stella and Emeka, daily lured suspects, who they tricked into their dollar-making scam.

    The statement said after luring the victim to their office, he (Osuji) would be invited as a pastor to pray for the victim.

    Osuji said in the process of praying for the victim, he would request for money for anointing oil, chemicals to wash the money and other charges.

    Frustration, he told RRS, made him join the gang three years ago.

    Osuji was quoted as saying: “Although there are many gangs that we operate with, I only have four members in my own gang. We operate at Agege, Ogba, College Road, Ojodu Berger, Ojota, Ikeja and Alausa.

    “I collected N120,000 from the victim. I know that my colleagues withdrew N45,000 from her account, using her ATM card. I am ready to refund the money.”

    The victim (name withheld) said she boarded a taxi at Ojota to Ojodu Berger.

    She said: “We were still at Oregun when the driver picked another passenger. It was at that juncture that they started tricking me.  I ended up in their office at Iju, where they collected my money, including the one in my account. They made me swear to an oath never to inform anyone. Thereafter, Osuji told me to go and get another N60,000 to complete the ritual.

    “After collecting N165,000, they still wouldn’t let me rest. I borrowed N60,000 being the balance of what they needed. I was on the way to hand it over to them when I regained consciousness. Luckily for me, with the assistance of the patrol team of RRS, I was able to lure Osuji out and got him arrested.”

    Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu directed that the gang members be arrested.

    He urged police operatives to rid every part of the state of black spots.

     

  • Civil Defence apprehends suspected fraudster

    Borno State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said yesterday that it had apprehended a 32-year-old man, who allegedly tricked people and deprived them of their money.

    Commandant Ibrahim Abdullahi named the suspect as Ali Goni, who was arrested at London Ciki in Maiduguri.

    He said Goni was nabbed after one of his victims, Muhammad Kawu, reported activities of the suspect to the command.

    “The fraudster told his victim to get a special detergent and herbal perfumes that would be used to appease spirits; thereafter N1.5 billion would be available for sharing.

    “He subsequently collected N130, 000 from his victim, claiming the amount would be used to appease a spiritual goddess to release the N1.5 million,” Abdullahi said.

    The commandant, who decried activities of fraudsters disguising as ‘saviours’, warned people to be wary of such characters.

    “The victim was working with a non-government organisation, but the suspect deceived him to quit the job, promising him N1.5 billion,” he said.

    Kawu said he was approached by Goni, who promised to provide him with money.

    “I have been visiting him for the last four months. He told me we needed to have a detergent to wash the money. I searched everywhere but could not get that type of detergent.

    “He later asked for a lot of money. It was then I realised that I was being defrauded,” he said.

    Goni confessed that he tricked his victim on the pretence of making money for him.

    He said he took advantage of the young man because he was desperate to make money.

    “I have made a great mistake, I am begging for his forgiveness.”

  • Lagos CJ loses N7m to suspected fraudster

    Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, has been allegedly defrauded of N7 million.

    The suspected fraudster, Sulaimon Aminu, was yesterday remanded in prison by an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    The charge, stated that the suspect and others at large had between January and March, conspired to commit the offence.

    The police claimed that the accused defrauded the chief judge of the cash following his failure to remit it to the Lagos State government’s account. The cash was payment for building plan approval.

    The accused also allegedly forged the government’s revenue receipt to cover up his act.

    The offences, according to the police, are contrary to, and punishable under, Sections 411, 334(1), 365(1), and 314(1)(A)(B) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

    The prosecutor, Fidelis Dike, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), urged the court to remand the accused, pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    Magistate A. O. Salawu ordered that the accused be remanded in Kirikiri prisons for the first 30 days.

    The case continues on September 5.

  • Suspected fraudster held at airport bank

    Suspected fraudster held at airport bank

    •Attempt to withdraw N8.5m cash fails

    A suspected fraudster was yesterday arrested at the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Ikeja, Lagos when he attempted to withdraw N8.5 million from his account.

    His account has been placed on alert by a government agency.

    A source told The Nation that when the Customer Service Manager contacted the main branch to verify the authenticity of the account and other details, he was told that the account had problems associated with “fraud “ and money cannot be withdrawn from it .

    Following instructions from the main branch, the customer was invited upstairs, but sensing danger he took to his heels.

    A police officer at the terminal and some car hire operators were mobilised to apprehend him before the government agency’s officials arrived the airport to take him away.

    Sources said his name had been circulated for alleged fraud.