THE Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has nabbed a fake ministry official, Ganiyu Yusuf Olalekan, for allegedly collecting N4.5 million from one Ibrahim Mustapha for three hajj pilgrimage slots.
The NSCDC said Olalekan falsely proclaimed to be a senior staff worker in the Ministry of Finance and promised the victim three Hajj slots in exchange for the payment.
The Publicity Secretary of the NSCDC, Ayoola Michael, in a statement on Tuesday, July 2, said during the investigation, it was discovered that the suspect is a swindler who deceives unsuspecting Nigerians for financial gain.
He added that two other suspects were arrested for alleged stealing and burglary.
He explained that that following a report by one Mumini Kabir about multiple burglaries at his home where valuable items including a motorcycle, two Android phones, and a home theatre system were stolen among other household items, detectives from the command tracked down one Ibrahim Wasiu, 31, a resident of Eyenkorin.
He added that another suspect, 33-year-old Soliu Jimoh, was located and taken into custody on June 30 for regularly stealing electrical cables and fixtures from uncompleted buildings in the Gaa Ajanaku neighbourhood of Ilorin, the state capital.
“All the suspects have confessed to the crime and will be prosecuted in a court of competent jurisdiction once the investigation is completed.
“The NSCDC commandant, Dr. Umar Mohammed, assured the public that the corps will not rest in its quest to combat criminality in the state,” he stated.
The state NSCDC spokesperson said all the stolen goods, including the cables and tools used in the activities, had been recovered.
Meanwhile, on Friday, June 28, officials of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested a fake official of the State House in Abuja and other suspects for employment scam.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, revealed this in a statement. He said the suspects were apprehended and charged with criminal conspiracy, false representation, and employment scam.
The suspects were listed as Augustine Enamegbai Umogboi, Eleojo Josephine Idakwo, and Kingsley Onuh.
While Onuh was reported to have completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Umogboi claimed to be a former Aso Rock employee, and Idakwo claimed to be a phoney employee of the Ministry of Information in the Registry Unit.
Oyewale said suspects were arrested separately following an investigation on petitions by various victims who were promised jobs at the Ministry of Communication, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Fede,ral Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other government agencies.
A reporter with the ICIR
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