Arrested suspected member
of a syndicate, Hyacinth Nwogu, who allegedly defrauded a businesswoman of N1.9
million was a breakthrough for Lagos Police.
The Lagos State Police Command
has burst a syndicate that specialised in swindling unsuspecting members of the
public, on the pretence that it had goods to clear at the sea ports.
Recovered from him were
fake foreign currencies, some drums and chemicals. The victim, Helen Olajide,
told journalists yesterday at the Lagos State Police Public Relations office in
Ikeja, that the suspect and his fleeing accomplices, who pretended to be
familiar with her, offered her a ride in their car in Ikeja. However, the
28-year-old businesswoman stated that she was taken to an apartment around
Ikeja, where her Automated Teller Machine, ATM, card was forcefully taken from
her.
According to her, “I was
standing at the bus stop waiting for a cab, when their vehicle came close to me
and they claimed that they knew me and that they were my customers. “They told
me they have a business for me and being a businesswoman, I decided to go with
them. One of them spoke French and they claimed that they were importers and
had a container loaded with computers, clothes, babies range and other items in
the warehouse.
“I picked interest on some
of the items and wrote them down. They made me sign an agreement to pay some
money, which they said they needed to go to Customs quarters and clear the
goods. “At the house, they collected my ATM card and went to the bank and
withdrew N150,000. Then I paid N900,000 cash, on August 26, into an account
number belonging to one Chukwuma Eke Linda. “In all, I paid N1.992 million. It
was after paying that I asked myself: ‘What is happening?’
“I decided to invite my
lawyer, who said I should invite them to come and sign an agreement him.
Immediately I informed them about signing an agreement, they switched off their
phones and started avoiding me. That was when I knew I have been duped.” On his
part, the 60-year-old suspect, Nwogu, admitted to having collected money from
her, explaining that the money was shared among three other members of the
syndicate.
He described himself as a
con man, adding that he usually brought his targets to his apartment at 7,
Abimbola Street, College Road, Ifako Ijaiye, when members of his family would
be away. Nwogu, who revealed that he had been into the shady business for four
years, said the latest victim was his biggest catch. He attributed his action
on his resolve to avenge a similar act against him. Nwogu, who never showed any
remorse for his action, said: “She is the fourth person I have duped. I started
the business four years ago after I was duped.
“I was a clearing agent and
I lost over N1.2 million to con men. I decided to go into it as revenge. I have
collected N20,000, N30,000 and N70,000 from different victims. This is the
first time I collected over N100,000. We were four that shared the amount and
we all got N333,000 each. “What we call chemical is a mixture of coca-cola and
vegetable oil. It is not chemical.
The fake currencies belong
to a friend who retired from the business. We refer to the fake currencies as
treasures which we tell our victims to bring money to buy. In this case, we
told her that she would get over N 5 million if she was able to raise N1.5
million for the treasure. We do not use charms. It is only gullible people that
are deceived. “My wife and five children live with me but they don’t know
that’s what I do because I usually brought victims home when my wife leaves for
her business place and the children go to school
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