Photos : Meet Nigeria's Most Wanted Fraudstar Capt. Abel

 A suspected fraudster, Idowu Olarenwaju, also known as Capt Anthony Abel Saramoh, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for defrauding an American Citizen of the sum of Four Million dollar ($4,000,000) through his company, Total Intership Nigeria Limited.

The heist was earned through a phony crude oil contracts with the victim, wiring the said amount into the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited ostensibly for the supply of crude oil. The bubble burst after the victim was left clutching the air, in an exasperating wait that ended with a petition to the EFCC.

  Olarenwaju's Hotel Built With Fraud Money

One Joe Onwudimowei, an accomplice who operates the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) where the proceeds of the said fake contract was deposited, was arrested on 18th June, 2015 and upon interrogation, manipulated Idowu Olanrewaju and one Otunba Yemi Osho as the people he handed over all monies that passed through the account.

On the 19th of June, 2015, the duo of Idowu Olanrewaju and Yemi Osho were arrested following a dawn raid on their homes by operatives of the EFCC.

According to Onwudimowei, Olanrewaju sometime in 2010, instructed him to withdraw the sum of Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N3, 500, 000.00) for Chief Yemi Osho. Osho, he claimed, in turn handed over the money to two people sent to him by Olarenwaju. 

This singular involvement of Osho was what made Olanrewaju confess to the fraud as he had initially denied knowing Onwudimowei. When Olanrewaju was confronted with the testimony of Osho, sources at the EFCC disclosed that he was speechless and began to plead for mercy.

Olanrewaju who does not have any reasonable source of income was discovered to have several properties in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a 44 rooms hotel in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. Also recovered from were a number of exotic cars including, a 2014 Range Rover, 2013 Honda Crosstour, 2013 Range Evogue and Honda CRV. 

Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren says the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

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Huge! EFCC Arrest Two Bank Officials For N3.6billion Mega Fraud(Photos)

 A crack team of operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, August 6, 2015 arrested one Kato Ifrahimu Nyam and Godwin Odali, both staff of a new generation bank for conspiring to defraud the bank to the tune of N3.6bn (three billion, six million naira) with an e-payment mandate purportedly from Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The suspects, who operate as syndicate, sometime in June 2015, through their cronies submitted an e-payment mandate of N1.4bn (one billion, four hundred million naira) to Zenith bank and Access bank Plc. The banks, sensing a foul play after noticing some abnormalities on the e-payment mandate discretely contacted the Ministry of Agriculture Agriculture for confirmation and authentication of the document. A response from the Ministry showed that, no mandate was sent to the banks. Hence, the EFCC was contacted for investigation.

While the investigation was underway, the suspects in furtherance of their dubious acts submitted another e-payment mandate of N1.398bn (one billion, three hundred and ninety eight million naira) to Zenith bank, Abuja branch though one Abiola Oloko, an accomplice.

 In the process, Oloko was arrested by EFCC operatives. On arrest, Oloko confessed that, they have had several meetings to arrange and perfect “the deal”. Oloko, who claimed to be a job seeker said, he was lured into “the business” by the bank officials whom he claimed gave him an identity card of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to answer the false name “Femi Babatunde”, but with his real passport photograph affixed to it.

The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation into the matter is concluded.

Media & Publicity 6th August, 2015

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Man Arraigned By EFCC For $127million Scam

 A suspected fraudster, Emeofa Michael Ikechukwu (Alias Michael Briggs) was on March 10, 2015 docked before Justice H.A Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt, Rivers State by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 9-count charge bordering on personation, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of more than $127,457. 

 The accused person allegedly obtained the sum from his Swiss girlfriend whom he tricked into investing in a non- existent timber business.

 Ikechukwu allegedly met his victim on a dating site in February 2013 and struck a relationship that blossomed into promise of marriage. “Michael Briggs”, introduced himself to his victim as a timber tycoon who was in Nigeria to close a business deal. He later informed her that he was having some difficulties with Nigerian officials and requested for loan from her.

 He later sent various scam documents to her, offering her partnership in his timber business in Nigeria. By the time she realised that she was dealing with a trickster, she had lost over $100,000 to the accused.

 One of the count reads: “That you Emeofa Michael Ikechukwu (Alias Michael Briggs) sometime in April , 2013, in Port Harcourt and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intend to defraud, did obtain the sum of $77,003.95 (seventy seven thousand, three dollar ninety five cents) from one Hengameh Misepasi and which you purportedly claimed to be a business partner dealing with timber which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

 The accused person pleaded to guilty to the charges. In view of the plea of the accused, the prosecuting counsel Sadiq Hussain applied for a date for trial. The judge remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the case to May 16, 2015 for hearing of bail application.

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Nigerian Politician and former Deputy Governor deported from America over N130M Fraud

 Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, western Nigeria, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu and Sampson Ojikutu, will be arraigned by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), of the Nigeria Police Force before a Federal High Court in Lagos tomorrow on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and stealing.

Sources close to SFU informed P.M.NEWS that Ojikutu, who is currently in the United States of America, USA, will be repatriated to Nigeria and arraigned tomorrow.

In a criminal charge number FHC/L/C/343c/13 filed before the court by CSP Effiong Asuquo from the SFU, it was alleged that Ojikutu and Sampson in September 2011 at Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Lagos, conspired to commit felony to wit, obtaining the sum of N130 million.

The money was allegedly collected from a Lagos businessman, Cajetan Okekearu, under the pretence that they have a plot of land at Lekki Phase 1 at Victoria Island to sell to him.

Sources close to SFU informed P.M.NEWS Ojikutu’s proposed repatriation was effected with the assistance of the US Embassy in Nigeria.

 Reports disclosed that all arrangements have been put in place for Ojikutu’s repatriation to Nigeria today.

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Nigerian couple tried to claim £3.8m in ‘eye watering’ benefits scam using 1,400 identities

Adeola Thomas, left, was jailed for seven years while his accomplice Abimbola Abiola, right, was locked up for two-and-a-half years for charges relating to identity theft, tax and benefits fraud 

A Nigerian couple who tried to claim £3.8million in an ‘eye-watering’ benefits scam using 1,400 stolen identities have been jailed for a total of almost 10 years. Adeola Thomas, 38, assisted by his partner, Abimbola Abiola, 34, managed to pocket £87,000 after submitting almost 2,500 handwritten applications for tax credits and benefits. The pair spent the money on designer clothing and electrical items including a 50-inch plasma television. 

But the fraud was discovered when benefits staff noticed the same address was being used for multiple claims, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard. Thomas, an illegal immigrant, was jailed for seven years while Abiola, also a Nigerian national with leave to remain in the UK, received two-and-a-half years. 

 Passing sentence, Judge William Kennedy said: ‘This was no less than a criminal industry, with simple and eye watering criminality designed to maximise the loss to the public. 

 ‘It was a difficult investigation carried out with skill and tenacity. ‘The largest single joint conspiracy [of its kind] for these departments and the actual loss was kept down because of the work of both departments.’ 

 Judge Kennedy also indicated that both Thomas and Abiola should be deported at the end of their prison terms. The pair, who carried out the scam between January 3, 2007 and October 7, 2011, tried to claim £827,000 from HMRC, securing £43,000. 

 They also claimed £3 million from the Department of Work and Pensions and received £44,000. With Abiola’s help, Thomas used stolen personal details to complete 2,495 handwritten application forms, which were sent to the appropriate departments for processing.

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