EFCC arrests fake traditional ruler for $2430,000 fraud
By Olawunmi Ojo

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have picked up a 38-year-old man, Chief Sam Nwankwo (alias Barrister Nwankwo, Hon. Nwankwo, Governor Brother), for defrauding a 57-year-old man identified as Collins of $243,000.



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The commission said in October last year that Nwankwo, who claims to be the Ogbuefi of Opokssi from Ohozarra in Ebonyi State, allegedly travelled to Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire to meet members of his syndicate namely Michael Adekunle (alias Doctor), Kadjo Aneje (alias Jean De Baptist) and sold a dummy to the victim who had been living in that country for over 20 years.

In a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday, EFCC spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi said the suspect went to the victim with a proposal to help him secure a soft loan to expand his business. The victim who deals in petroleum products reasoned with them and agreed to collect the loan from Adekunle who was introduced to him as a United States of America-based physician.

The introduction, Babafemi said, was done by Kadjo, a long time friend of Collins. To make the loan offer irresistible, Adekunle promised to give the victim a $2.5million facility at the low interest rate of five per cent.

"After the victim had accepted to take the loan, Adekunle told him that he had already secured it. To convince his prey, he showed him documents he purportedly used to secure the loan. But he said the victim could only access it if he agrees to pay the sum of $23,000 as commitment fee. The victim promptly paid."

But after payment, Collins did not get the loan and Adekunle told him that the money was in Swiss vault and that since the money was idle, the victim had to pay $100,000 as demurrage before the money could be released to him.

In his desperation, Collins paid the money. The suspects were not satisfied and demanded an additional $60,000 and promised that the expenses would be deducted from the loan.

Adekunle later told Collins that the fund belonged to one Chief Sam Nnamani and that for Nnamani to release the money, the victim must pay another $60,000 as agreement; assuring that within two days the money would be paid to him. Again, Collins complied.

Instead of paying the money, the story changed. Adekunle told the victim once more, that the money actually belonged to one late Justice Okeke (nee Nnamani), the sister to Chief Nnamani and that the judge was poisoned because she used Nnamani as her next-of-kin.

The commission said in October last year that Nwankwo, who claims to be the Ogbuefi of Opokssi from Ohozarra in Ebonyi State, allegedly travelled to Abidjan, Cote d' Ivoire to meet members of his syndicate namely Michael Adekunle (alias Doctor), Kadjo Aneje (alias Jean De Baptist) and sold a dummy to the victim who had been living in that country for over 20 years.