Ijeoma Agudosi
Anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has destroyed a syndicate of suspected fraudsters, who swindled their victims of over N300m, in cases involving different fake crude oil deals.
The EFCC said the two members of the syndicate ─ Michael Morowie and Emmanuel Owoicho are in its custodyabout the to say what they know about the crude oil scam.
The commisssions spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said, “EFCC moved against the syndicate following complaints by victims who had been fleeced by the alleged fraudsters.
“An unsuspecting victim alleged that members of the syndicate collected N119m from him on the pretext of supplying him with two million barrels of Bonny Light crude oil. Eventually, the oil supply documents, which were purportedly obtained from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, were found to be fake.”
It was gathered that in the course of investigation, operatives of the EFCC quizzed one Samson Omobere of Etsam Oil and Gas Limited, who admitted to have collected the N119m from the complainant. The suspect alleged that he transferred a substantial part of the money to the Magnificent Marine Services Limited.
“This led to the arrest of one Michael Morowie, a director in the Magnificent Marine Services Limited, who allegedly withdrew over $358,000 and N11.7m from the company’s account under the names of Boma Harry, Peterson Harry and Elder Dan Jumbo,” Uwujaren said.
He added that four driving licences bearing his photograph under the name of Michael Morowei as well as several other scam documents were recovered from the suspect’s house.
The EFCC said another members of the syndicate also obtained N300,000 from another victim, a Kenyan citizen resident in Germany.
“The syndicate had sold the same dummy of supplying him with two million barrels of Bonny Light crude oil,” Uwujared said.
He added that the commission was investigating the syndicate for another alleged case of obtaining N102.8m from another complainant under the pretences of supplying him two million barrels of Bonny Light crude oil.
The anti-graft agency said one Emmanuel Owoicho of Owoema Resources Limited, confessed to have collected N15m from the complainant.
It added that Oworicho directed the complainant to pay the bulk money to some bank accounts, including Allen Logic Ways Unique Services Limited.
The EFCC spokeman said, “Acting on this lead, the EFCC arrested one Michael Oghenemi.
“The EFCC also recovered the letterhead of Allen Logic Ways Unique Services, which was registered in the name of Pabor Wariowei, from his house.
“About N14m was transferred to Standard Allied Universal Concept registered by Fubara Jumbo, one of the pseudo names used by the suspects.They will be charged to court after investigation is concluded.”