‘He promised I would get 20 per cent…’

Police arrest five undergraduates over alleged N8.5m fraud

Five undergraduates of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State are currently in the net at the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi for allegedly committing fraud through their bank account.

The students gave their bank account number to a fraud syndicate whom they met on different occasions in Anambra State.

The suspects claimed they were unaware that the kingpin would commit financial atrocities with their account.

They were identified as Nwokorie Somadina, Ekweme Somtomchukwu, Chris Kizito, Ude Cyprian and Ebuka Emmanuel. They are assisting detectives at PSFU to unravel the whereabouts of the criminal syndicate.

While Emmanuel alleged that he met one of the conmen, Blade, through his cousin in the village, Somadina, however, alleged that he met another member of the gang, Nat, through a fellow student.

According to Emmanuel: “I met Blade through one of my cousins in the village. We exchanged telephone numbers. A week after we met, Blade asked if I had a Zenith Bank account, which I said yes. Two days later, he called again to say that he had a transaction to make that involved a Zenith Bank account holder. He promised that I would get 20 per cent of whatever amount that was paid into my account. A few days later, someone paid N2 million into my account.

“Blade met me and we went to the bank where I withdrew the sum of N500, 000 cash from across the counter.  Blade gave me N100, 000. He demanded that I should give him my ATM card, password and token. I later discovered that N1 million was withdrawn from my account two days later. I gave back the N100, 000 to Blade because I felt he had reneged on his earlier promise of 20 percent”.

He claimed that he started receiving series of calls from one Nat, who alleged that he was the owner of the said N2 million that was paid into his account.

“It was through my discussion with Nat that I got to know that Blade was a middle-man between myself and the gang. After my discussions with Nat, I quickly informed my bank to put a hold on any transaction through my ATM or token” he added.

Another suspect, Somadina alleged that he met Nat, another member of the gang through a fellow student.

He said he was also promised 20 percent on any transaction made using his account details.

“Someone paid N950,000 into my account. The entire amount was withdrawn because I gave out my ATM and password,” he added.

Confirming the arrest of the students, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in charge of PSFU, Lawal Audu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) said the suspects ripped their victim of N8.5 million.

According to him: “The unit received a petition from the management of Golden Chance Loto about a fraudulent withdrawal of the said sum from the company’s account.”

He disclosed that based on the strength of the petition, the Commissioner of Police in charge of PSFU detailed some detectives to go after the perpetrators of the crime.

“In the cause of investigation, it was discovered that the amount which was fraudulently withdrawn from the company was paid into the suspects account.

“The detectives trailed the suspects to their hideouts in Anambra State from where they were all arrested. The investigation also revealed the gang kingpins, Nat, and Blade were the masterminds of the fraud. The two ring leaders are currently at large and effort is on going to arrest the fleeing members of the gang,” he said.

Audu further said that the suspects would soon be charged to court.