29th February, 2012
Police men at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, have arrested a suspected fraudster.
The suspect, a 37-year old trader from Orlu, Imo State, southeast Nigeria, was arrested at Ponle bus stop, Egbeda, where he was waiting to dupe his victim.
P.M.NEWS gathered that many people have been duped by the suspect.
The victim, Leo Chidi, a dealer in electronics narrated how he got in contact with the fraudsters, saying; “I received a phone call from someone who claimed to know me and wanted to introduce a business to me. Sensing foul play, I quickly passed the phone to my girlfriend to play along with the caller. This is because in January, I got a call from someone from Warri, Delta Sate, southsouth Nigeria, who wanted me to do business with his expatriate partner based in Lagos. I was to supply them some goods. I was also directed on phone to where I could get the sample of the tools at Iyana Dosumu Vulcaniser bus stop at Iyana Ipaja after which I was asked to pay N200,000. But I paid N180,000 to Elder Bassey to give to the buyer, Dr. Lawrence, at Sheraton Hotel. Suddenly and to my surprise, he stopped picking my calls and I then realised I was duped.”
He stated that when the last call came, he decided his girlfriend should plays along with the caller.
They agreed to meet at Ponle to pay N50,000 for the goods.
On getting to the meeting place, Leo said his girlfriend met with the fraudster and he discovered the caller was the same person who duped him earlier.
The suspect, who lives at Boundary Road, Shasha, Lagos, and married with children, said: “You know that whatever I say will be used against me in a court and my wife is pregnant. It’s the Customs who seized my goods, I sell women clothing and I borrowed money to sell boxer’s shorts for boys. I was later introduced into this business (419).
He was arrested and taken to Gowon Estate Police Station. The DPO, Mr. Julius Alawari(CSP), said the suspect would be prosecuted after thorough investigation.
—Lucky Lawal