Major Developments in Three High-Profile Nigerian Criminal Cases

In a recent series of events, the Nigeria Police Force has made significant progress in three high-profile cases involving fraud, extortion, and international cooperation. These cases shed light on the persistent issue of financial fraud and the importance of international collaboration in tackling transnational crimes.

1. Successful Extradition in International Fraud Case

In a groundbreaking development, Nigerian law enforcement authorities, in collaboration with INTERPOL, have achieved a significant breakthrough in an international fraud case. This case began with a complaint filed by Mr. Akinola Bayo Michael in October 2021, who sought to obtain foreign exchange (forex) for a machinery purchase from the Netherlands.

Mr. Michael transferred a substantial sum of N492,750,000 to Mr. Mohammed Sulaiman’s bank account for the intended forex transaction. However, Mr. Sulaiman diverted the funds to another individual, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau, residing in the United Arab Emirates. Following this, Mr. Barau sent 513,000 Euros to Mr. Michael from Belgium, ostensibly for the forex transaction.

This transaction raised red flags as fraudulent, leading Mr. Michael to return the funds to the sender. Realizing that he had fallen victim to a scam, Mr. Michael tirelessly attempted to recover his money without success.

However, the case took a remarkable turn when INTERPOL assumed jurisdiction. Recognizing the international scope and gravity of the fraud, INTERPOL placed the prime suspect, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau, on a red alert list, facilitating international cooperation in tracking and apprehending him.

We are thrilled to report that Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau was arrested by INTERPOL Abu Dhabi and subsequently extradited to Nigeria on September 27, 2023. This extradition marks a significant stride towards justice for Mr. Akinola Bayo Michael, emphasizing the commitment of law enforcement agencies, both domestic and international, to hold criminals accountable for their actions, even across borders.

This case underscores the critical importance of vigilance and due diligence in financial transactions, especially in an era of increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. Authorities urge individuals and businesses to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of financial transactions to safeguard against falling victim to fraud.

2. Fraudulent Conversion of Funds, Forgery, and Threats

In a compelling case that recently came to light, Mrs. Ifeanyiwas Anthonia Ugoh filed a complaint against Peace Ekom Robert, revealing a series of fraudulent activities. The saga began on January 30, 2023, when Mrs. Ugoh communicated with Peace Ekom Robert, indicating her access to a substantial sum of 600,000 Euros for forex trading.

In response, the suspect, Peace Ekom Robert, claimed to have a client in need of 780,000 Euros. To validate the suspect’s authenticity and her client’s credibility, Mrs. Ugoh arranged for her client to make payments totaling 55,000 Euros in two installments. In return, the suspect provided an account balance statement, allegedly reflecting an impressive 5.3 billion Naira, indicating her client’s financial capacity for the transaction.

However, Mrs. Ugoh later discovered that the provided account balance statement was forged. When she attempted to recover the 55,000 Euros or its Naira equivalent, the suspect resorted to false claims, asserting that the account had been flagged by INTERPOL and even making threats to dissuade Mrs. Ugoh from involving the police.

Undeterred by these tactics, Mrs. Ugoh reported the matter to the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Lagos, leading to the arrest of the suspect, Peace Ekom Robert. In an unexpected turn, a friend of the victim, Hon. Ndiana-Abasi, attempted to mediate and paid 15,000,000 Naira as part of the 42,900,000 Naira outstanding balance.

Regrettably, the suspect failed to fulfill this commitment and evaded the legal process. She even petitioned the Inspector General of Police, resulting in the case’s transfer to the NPF National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC). The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) was tasked with harmonizing the investigations due to the similarity of cases involving the suspect.

In a surprising twist, the suspect attempted to arrange a meeting with Mrs. Ugoh for reconciliation but was apprehended on September 22, 2023, in Abuja after evading arrest for months.

Authorities encourage additional victims of the suspect’s fraudulent activities to come forward and collaborate in the harmonization of investigations, as this joint effort is crucial in ensuring that justice is served.

3. Impersonation, Fraud, and Obtaining Money Under False Pretenses

A complex case involving a criminal syndicate engaged in impersonation, fraud, and obtaining money under false pretenses has been under investigation by the Nigeria Police Force. Over the past two years, the IGP Monitoring Unit, in conjunction with the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU), has been diligently pursuing leads related to this criminal syndicate.

The prime suspect in this case is Ismaila Ayed

ade, who remains at large. Together with his accomplices, Nura Mohammed and Abubakar Iliyasu, the syndicate impersonates high-ranking police officers’ aides, particularly the Personal Assistant to senior police officers or the Director in charge of promotion at the Police Service Commission.

The syndicate employs various tactics to deceive their victims, claiming to act on behalf of high-ranking officers and promising promotions, postings, or exoneration from disciplinary actions in exchange for monetary payments. They have also used the pretense of auctioning SUV vehicles to entice victims.

To date, this criminal syndicate has defrauded both retired and serving police officers of over 100 million naira through various fraudulent schemes. They utilize different phone numbers and bank accounts to avoid detection. While the principal suspect, Ismaila Ayedade, remains at large, significant progress has been made. Nura Mohammed and Abubakar Iliyasu are currently in police custody and will be charged accordingly.

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Ismaila Ayedade, the prime suspect in this case, is now officially declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force. Authorities call on anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to come forward and assist in his apprehension. The arrested suspects, Nura Mohammed and Abubakar Iliyasu, will face legal consequences as they are charged to court soon.

The Nigeria Police Force strongly cautions both serving and retired police officers, as well as the general public, to exercise extreme caution when engaging in discussions or transactions involving pecuniary obligations. It is imperative to verify the authenticity of such requests through official channels and adhere strictly to the due process of internal control and supervision within the Force.