By Samuel Malik
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested a man parading himself as an agent of the commission to extort money from the executive secretary of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, Usman Gurama, under the pretext of securing Hajj sponsorship to Saudi Arabia for the agency’s staff in the state.
The suspect, Mohammed Adamu, also known as Mohammed Bala, according to the EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, was arrested as he was about to collect money from Gurama.
“Investigations by the commission revealed that the suspect had written a letter to the executive secretary of the pilgrims board, requesting for money to give to staff of EFCC for the pilgrimage to Mecca,” the EFCC said, adding that it was discovered that Adamu was employed by the Gombe Local Government Education Authority as assistant headmaster at Madaki Primary School in the state.
Among items recovered from the impersonator, according to the EFCC, include Nigeria Police identity card with his name and picture as corporal, a temporary appointment offer letter from Gombe local government education authority, three copies of Hajj seats receipts and a letter written by the suspect on a plain paper to the executive secretary, Gombe State Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board, requesting for money for supposed staff of the anti-graft agency.
The commission said it would arraign Adamu once it concludes its investigation.