How fake US army colonel was arrested by EFCC over alleged fraud

macfranc007 February 09, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Kess Ewubare

- Two suspects, one Mike Nkwocha and Richardson Obasogie, have been arrested by the EFCC for alleged fraud

- The spokesperson for the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, says both suspects would be charged to court soon

- House member, Yakubu Barde, expresses concern that the chairman of the CCT, Danladi Umar, has been charged with corruption at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court by the EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested two men for impersonating its operatives to obtain $10,000 by false presence.

Spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Uwujaren identified the suspects as one Mike Nkwocha and Richardson Obasogie, a self-confessed colonel in the United States Army.

He said their victim (not identified) had petitioned the commission alleging that one Ladan Mustapha, who claimed to be an EFCC operative, called to inform him that there was a petition against him.

Mustapha allegedly told the victim that the petition bordered on illegal acquisition of assets in different parts of the country for which he was currently under investigation.

“Together with his partner, Nkwocha, a meeting was arranged, in which $200,000 was demanded as gratification in order to “kill” the case, but $15,000 was later agreed upon as payment.

“An initial payment of $5,000 cash was made to Nkwocha, while he continued to put pressure on him for the balance of $10,000.

“However, suspecting foul play, after a retired personnel of the DSS (Department of State Services) told the petitioner that EFCC operatives don’t demand money to carry out official duties, the EFCC was petitioned,” Uwujaren said.

According to him, Nkwocha was arrested, and during interrogation, confessed that Obasogie was the brain behind the fraud.

He said a search warrant was executed on the suspects’ houses resulting in the recovery of incriminating items.

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He listed the items as letterheads of the United States Government, DSS, National Intelligence Agency, Independent National Electoral Commission and Bayelsa State Government, and one computer system.

Uwujaren added that Nkwocha and Obasogie would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

Operatives are intensifying search for Ladan Mustapha, who is currently at large, he said.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Thursday, February 8, condemned the alleged manipulation of Nigeria’s legal system by the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The House also summoned the AGF, Abubakar Malami, for explanation on alleged manipulation of Code of Conduct Tribunal case involving the president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Yakubu Barde (Kaduna-PDP), The News Agency of Nigeria.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption on NAIJ.com TV