A suspect, Joel Mba Okodi, who has been on the wanted list of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for four years has been arrested by men of the Rivers State Police Command.
The Guardian learnt that the suspect, popularly known as ‘Chief’, was resident at No.21, Abak Road Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, and is listed as a director at Chismo Resources Limited, Ikot-Ekpene.
A statement by the Rivers State Police Command, said Okodi had deceitfully collected N50 million from one Chief Okosisi and was arrested by the EFCC after the case was reported.
While the case was being investigated, he allegedly coerced another victim, Ochulor Okeokwu, to stand as surety.
To secure the suspect’s release, Okeokwu unsuspectingly tendered his house documents worth N50 million as collateral at the EFCC’s office in Port Harcourt. After that, the suspect refused to turn up for investigations and was nowhere to be found as he evaded phone calls.
According to the police, Okeokwu sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who approved and forwarded the same to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The CP immediately sprang into action and mandated men of Operation Sting to ensure the suspect was arrested.
Findings showed that the suspect was somewhere in Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, where he had been hiding in the last four years.
The operatives submitted relevant policing documents, mobilised, and went to Lagos to carry out the arrest on January 18, at Ajegunle, Lagos.
The EFCC has taken over the case.
