Joseph Bakare
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have commenced investigations into the activities of one Raheem Abiodun Wasiu, an alleged serial fraudster, for an alleged case of fraud to the tune of $12,000 (Twelve Thousand United States Dollars).
Wasiu, 38, was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, following a complaint by one Ezekulie Stanley Chukwuamuanya, a Bureau De Change operator who claimed that he was defrauded the sum of $5000 (Five Thousand United States Dollars) by the suspect.
In the course of investigation by operatives of the EFCC, it was discovered that the suspect rents different Toyota Hilux trucks, disguises as a wealthy contractor, moves with escorts and meets BDC operators in the south-east and allegedly tricks them into parting with their had earned money, by presenting fake alerts in Naira to them, after collecting their money.
According to Chukwumuanya, “I gave him the dollar and he counted it by himself. After confirmation, he then asked for my bank details. After giving him my account number, he mentioned my name that popped up on his bank application, I confirmed it. The next thing he told me was that it had gone through, which I waited for the alert to come, to no avail. Because of time, he asked me to go and that I will get it, that it could be network issues and I left because of his personality”. He alleged that soon after that, the suspect became incommunicado.
Another petitioner, based in Owerri, Imo State, one Chief Nwaoha Ubaferem equally alleged that Wasiu defrauded him of the sum of $7,000. He said, “the dollar on me was $2,600, then I called my office to bring additional $4,400 to me to complete it as he requested for $7,000. As we were waiting, he complained that he was running late and we decided to move to Royce Road from Port Harcourt Road where he finally collected the money from me, resumed transfer, called my name and informed me that the transfer had gone which I believed but continued to expect alert from him”.
Further investigations revealed that the suspect has toured the South-east, and Akwa Ibom State, using the same pattern to allegedly defraud BDC operators.
Items recovered from the suspect include: A Hilux truck (Akwa Ibom KTR 379 AA), various bank ATM cards, different bank transfer tokens, digital National Identification Number slip with the name Sunday Abiodun, two complimentary cards with the name Engineer Abiodun, a designer bag (Emporio Amani), One iPhone 17 Promax, One Samsung phone, 4G internet pocket WIFI, One Patek Philip wrist watch, vehicle particulars, One gold bangle and a pair of shoes (Alexandra MC Queen).
The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.