The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two men for “impersonating” its operatives to obtain $10,000 by false presence.
The Spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Uwujaren identified the suspects as one Mike Nkwocha and Richardson Obasogie, a “self-confessed Colonel in the United States Army.”
He said their victim 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.
Uwujaren said: “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.”
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.
