Fraud was the surest way to revive my business, says Farmer who impersonated IGP, Okonjo Iweala

LAGOS CP, UMAR MANKO

Until February 5 this year 34 year old   suspected fraudster, Victor Ekong, who is presently being detained at the Command Headquarters, Ikeja, had allegedly impersonated the likes of Inspector General of police Mr Mohammed Abubakar. Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to defraud foreign nationals, especially, the Americans.

Aside from impersonating the bosses of these agencies, the  Cross River State born fraudster  who signed various letters of authorisation posed  as a contract  verification officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,

But like the popular maxim that many days are for the thief and just one day to the house owner, the long arm of the law caught him a forth night ago as detectives from X squad at Ogba nabbed him while cruising to Alausa, Ikeja for undisclosed mission.

Police public Relations officer PPRO,  Ngozi Braide  said the suspect  confessed   that he used the name Phillip Ague , an American, to swindle his victims. The suspect said, "I graduated from the University of Calabar in 2004. I read agric science. I went into fish farming, but unfortunately lost all my stock went my farm was ravaged by an epidemic.

"I met my first victim, an American online and during our discussion I introduced myself as Phillip Agwe. I presented some business proposals to him and also forwarded most of the documents found on my to him.

 "Mid way into the transaction, he sent me the sum of 10,000 US dollars, but somewhere along the line he found out that most of the documents I mailed to him we're forged. That was how the business ended " he said.On the alleged Indian hemp found on him he saiid that the indian hemp  found in his pocket  actually belong to him, but as part of his new year resolution, he stopped smoking last year

"i wore this trouser last in 2013 and must have forgotten the Indian hemp in pocket because I stopped smoking in December last year" he said.

Parading the suspect at the Command Headquarters, IKeja,yesterday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, said that the fraudster was accosted by policemen who were on a stop and search duty at Ogba area of Ikeja.

"when he was searched, a rap of Indian hemp was found on him which attracted the suspicion of the policemen. A thorough search on him led to the discovery of more incriminating items, some of which include the IGP letter head paper with the IGP name and signature,  Federal  High COurt Certificate, CBN documents, ID card of the Federal CIvil Service, Ministry of Tourism Award certificate, United Nation Terrorism Board, Anti-Drug/Money Laundering Clearance Certificate and Internal REvenue TAx Clearance Certificate" she added.

Similarly, a 54 year-old man, identified as  was also arrested with fake US dollars valued about N2.5million. The suspect who claimed to be a graphic artist admitted to have printed the fake foreign currency with a view of selling same to criminal minded persons. Braide said both suspects will soon be charged to court.