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1. SUCCESSFUL EXTRADITION OF SUSPECT IN A CASE OF
CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, FRAUD, AND OBTAINING BY FALSE
PRETENCE
The extant case involves a complaint filed by one Mr. Akinola Bayo
Michael, who, in October 2021, sought to obtain foreign exchange
(forex) for the purpose of purchasing a machine from the Netherlands.
Mr. Michael sent a substantial sum of Four Hundred and Ninety Two
Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N492,750,000) only to
the bank account of Mr. Mohammed Sulaiman. However, instead of
facilitating the forex transaction as agreed, Mr. Sulaiman transferred the
funds to another individual, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau.
Mr. Hassan Barau, who resides in the United Arab Emirates,
subsequently sent 513,000 Euros to Mr. Michael from Belgium,
supposedly for the forex transaction. However, this transaction was
flagged as fraudulent, leading Mr. Michael to return the funds to the
sender. Realizing that he had been a victim of fraud, Mr. Michael made
multiple attempts to recover his money but was unsuccessful.
The case took a significant turn when it was assigned to INTERPOL
which launched an investigation into the matter. Recognizing the severity
of the fraud and its international dimension, INTERPOL placed the prime
suspect, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau, on a red alert list, thereby
facilitating international cooperation in tracking and apprehending the
suspect.
We are pleased to inform you that Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau was
arrested by INTERPOL Abu Dhabi and subsequently extradited to Nigeria
on 27th September 2023. His extradition marks a crucial milestone in
the pursuit of justice for Mr. Akinola Bayo Michael. The successful
extradition of Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau demonstrates the
commitment of law enforcement agencies, both within and outside
Nigeria, to ensuring that perpetrators of criminal activities, particularly
those with international ramifications, are held accountable for their
actions.
This case underscores the importance of vigilance and due diligence in
financial transactions, especially in the era of increasingly sophisticated
fraud schemes. We urge individuals and businesses to exercise caution
and verify the legitimacy of financial transactions to prevent falling
victim to fraud.
2. CASE OF FRAUDULENT CONVERSION OF FUNDS, FORGERY,
AND THREAT TO LIFE
This case centers around Mrs. Ifeanyiwas Anthonia Ugoh, who filed the
complaint against one Peace Ekom Robert. On 30th January, 2023, Mrs.
Ugoh had communicated with Peace Ekom Robert, indicating that she
had access to a significant sum of 600,000 Euros for forex trading. In
response, the suspect claimed to have a client requiring 780,000 Euros.
To verify the authenticity of the suspect and her client, Mrs. Ugoh
arranged for her client to make payments totaling 55,000 Euros in two
installments. Subsequently, the suspect provided an account balance
statement, allegedly showing a remarkable 5.3 billion Naira,
demonstrating her client’s financial capacity for the transaction.
However, after conducting due diligence, Mrs. Ugoh discovered that the
account balance statement provided by the suspect was forged. When
she sought to recover the 55,000 Euros or its Naira equivalent, the
suspect falsely claimed that the account had been flagged by INTERPOL,
even resorting to threats to dissuade Mrs. Ugoh from involving the
police.
Undeterred, 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. A friend of hers, one Hon. NdianaAbasi, in a bid to broker peace between the parties voluntarily paid the
sum of 15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Naira) of the total Naira equivalence
of 42,900,000 (Forty Two Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira).
Subsequently, Peace Ekom Robert was granted bail under the condition
that she would pay the outstanding balance of 27,900,000 Naira in two
installments, as witnessed by Hon. Ndiana-Abasi. Regrettably, the
suspect failed to fulfill this commitment and absconded, evading the
legal process.
In a twist of events, the suspect petitioned the Inspector General of
Police, resulting in the case being forwarded to the NPF National
Cybercrime Centre (NCCC). Recognizing the similarity of cases involving
the suspect, the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) was assigned to
harmonize the investigations.
The suspect later attempted to arrange a meeting with Mrs. Ugoh to
reconcile, but upon arrival, Mrs. Ugoh, accompanied by police officers,
discovered that the suspect had come with officers of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to apprehend her. After realizing
that the police were coordinating the case harmonization with the EFCC,
the suspect ceased contact with them.
Peace Ekom Robert was thereafter declared wanted alongside NdianaAbasi who came forward and clarified his position in the matter and was
thereupon cleared by the Police. The suspect, Peace Ekom, was
apprehended on 22nd September in Abuja after months of evading
arrests.
It has come to our attention that additional complainants with similar
cases against her have started to come forward. We are committed to
conducting thorough investigations, and upon the conclusion of our
inquiries, the suspect will be brought to face legal consequences. We
take this opportunity to encourage other victims of the suspect’s
fraudulent activities to come forward and cooperate in the harmonization
of investigations. This collaborative effort is pivotal in ensuring that
justice is served.
3. CASE OF CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND CYBERBULLYING
INVOLVING OKOLI EDOKA CHIOMA AND ERISCO FOODS’
NAGIKO TOMATO PASTE
Ladies and gentlemen of the press,
We appreciate your presence here today as we address a matter of
significant concern that has recently come to our attention. The case at
hand involves allegations of criminal conspiracy and cyberbullying
concerning an individual identified as Okoli Edoka Chioma and a product
manufactured by Erisco Foods Limited, specifically the Nagiko Tomato
Paste.
On 19th September, 2023, the Police received a petition from Erisko
Foods Limited following a social media post on the Facebook platform,
where Mrs. Okoli Edoka Chioma claimed to have purchased Nagiko
Tomato Paste and subsequently provided a review of the product. While
we encourage consumers to express their opinions and concerns about
products they use, it is essential that these reviews are based on factual
information and are presented responsibly.
Ms. Chioma’s review of the Nagiko Tomato Paste included claims that
the product contained excessive sugar and, more alarmingly, that it was
causing harm and death to individuals who consumed it. These
allegations were made publicly on her social media account, sparking
concern among members of the public and potentially damaging the
reputation of Erisco Foods Limited and their product.
Upon receiving information about these allegations, a thorough
investigation was initiated. During the course of the investigation,
several important findings were made including that Mrs. Chioma was
unable to provide any credible evidence or proof of purchase to
substantiate her claims that she bought the Nagiko Tomato Paste nor
could she provide any evidence or names of individuals who had
allegedly been harmed or killed by consuming the product. Mrs. Chioma
subsequently tendered an public apology for her earlier claims,
acknowledging that her statements were false and unfounded.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing, and upon its conclusion,
appropriate legal action may be taken against Mrs. Okoli Edoka Chioma
in accordance with extant laws. The seriousness of making false and
damaging allegations on a public platform cannot be understated. The
NPF therefore reminds the public that making unverified claims or
spreading false information about products, individuals, or companies
can have significant consequences. Such actions can damage
reputations, incite panic, and lead to unwarranted harm to businesses
and individuals.
In conclusion, the NPF urges members of the public to exercise
responsibility and discretion when expressing their views and opinions,
especially on social media platforms. False allegations, cyberbullying,
and unfounded claims can have far-reaching repercussions, both legally
and socially.
