Published January 29, 2021
Deji Lambo
The Assistant Inspector -General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex , Alagbon , Dasuki Galadanchi, has paraded five suspects for allegedly swindling a bureau de change operator, Churchill Udoh , of N 92 m in the Ikoyi area of Lagos State .
A spokesperson for the FCID , Oluniyi Ogundeyi , who spoke on behalf of Galadanchi during the parade , identified the suspects as Alexander Olusoga , Amelia Osakwe, Abraham Moses , Precious Odih , and Ezemo Gadiel .
He stated that the suspects were arrested when detectives from the Special Enquiry Bureau , FCID Annex , got a tip -off on the case.
Ogundeyi said, “ On December 22 , 2020 , one Churchill Udoh , who is the Executive Officer , Westgate Bureau de Change Limited, was contacted by his former staff, Precious Odih , that one Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, who is a forex dealer, has $ 500 ,000 to sell.
“ Then Churchill Udoh indicated interest to buy and after negotiating with Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf, he transferred the sum of N 92 , 000, 000 , being the naira equivalent of $ 200, 000 , into the Wema Bank account number , 0120733987 , of Ametash Global Ventures on behalf of Ibrahim Yusuf, now at large .
“ After the cash transfer , Churchill Udoh and Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf met at the NNPC Tower along Alfred Rewane Way , Ikoyi , Lagos , where the sum of $ 200 ,000 , which later was suspected to be fake , was handed over to him . Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf asked Udoh to wait in the office while he returned the balance of $ 300 ,000 to the bank since Churchill only needed $ 200 ,000 , and fled .
“ Udoh was in the office at the NNPC Tower Ikoyi -Lagos , when a team of police detectives from the Special Enquiry Bureau , Force CID Annex , Lagos , acted aptly on a tip -off that some people were at the specific office to engage in an illegal forex transaction.
“ Five suspects were arrested in connection with this crime, while Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf is still at large . Upon interrogation, the suspects made confessional statements to the crime . We are searching for the fleeing Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf. ”
All the suspects , however , denied involvement in the crime .
Olusoga said , “ The N 92 m was transferred into my account and when I was apprehended, my account was blocked immediately and N 44 .5 m was transferred back to the company Mr Churchill represented .
“ I also acted on the instruction of Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf when I transferred the remaining N 47 . 5 m to various accounts which were already blocked. All the money is accounted for and a court order has been obtained to transfer the remaining money back to Mr Churchill ’ s company account. So, saying that we stole N 92 m is a misrepresentation because N 92 m is not missing.”