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By Emma Njoku
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate for Kogi State House of Assembly in next year’s general elections, Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged involvement in bank fraud.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, who made the disclosure in a statement, yesterday, said Atumeyi, who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly was arrested on Sunday, with N326 million and $140,500 cash.
The EFCC spokesman said Atumeyi was arrested alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Also arrested in connection with a N1.4 billion bank fraud is Abdumalik Salau Femi, a former bank employee, who allegedly supplied the inside information that facilitated the attack on the bank by the syndicate.
“He (Atumeyi) was picked up today, November 1, 2022, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos. Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu, where a total of $470,000 was recovered. The arrest of the suspects followed months of investigation into the hacking of one of the commercial banks by a syndicate of fraudsters who pulled off a heist of N1.4 billion.
“The syndicate allegedly moved N887 million into the account of Fav Oil and Gas limited, from where the monies were paid to several Bureau de Change operators and some auto dealers for exchange into United States dollars and purchase of high-end cars.
“Dominic, who has severally been arrested for fraud, allegedly helped Atumeyi perfect the hacking plan through Abdumalik. Dominic, a self-styled investment expert and managing director of Brisk Capital Limited, was arrested in May 2021 by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police, for alleged N2 billion investment scam. He allegedly defrauded over 500 people in a phony investment scheme,” the statement read.
Uwujaren further disclosed that two Range Rover Luxury SUVs were also recovered from the two suspects arrested in Abuja, adding that they will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has expressed concern about the rising spate of cyber-attacks on banks and the reluctance of the institutions to report such breaches to law enforcement. While warning that such reticence would only embolden the criminals, the commission appealed to financial institutions to collaborate with it, to secure the financial sector from threats of cyber-attacks.
The EFCC had, in the wake of the recent announcement by the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) of plans to redesign and re-issue higher denominations of the naira, warned Bureau de Change operators to be wary of currency hoarders who would attempt to seize the opportunity to offload the currencies they had illegally stashed away.
