Fake journalist arrested while attempting to withdraw N2m bribe – EFCC

By Ayorinde Oluokun\Abuja

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested on Ernesto Chukwudum Chukwukamma who allegedly posed as a journalist obtain the sum of N2 million as financial inducement to stop investigation of alleged $4.5bn fraud in defunct Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF.

Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for EFCC in a statement on Tuesday said Chukwukamma was arrested for alleged for alleged extortion, impersonation and obtaining N2 million under false pretence to influence the investigation of the sum of $4,500,000,000.00 (Four Billion, Five Hundred Million United States Dollars)

He added that the 63-year-old fake journalist was arrested for allegedly threatening the life of a petitioner and receiving financial inducement from him to stop the investigation of $4,500,000,000.00 alleged Petroleum Trust Fund, PTF, Fraud.

According to the statement, Chukwuma presented himself to the petitioner as a journalist attached to the EFCC to the petitioner.

He also allegedly told the petitioner that other journalists who are members of a Correspondence Chapel attached to the EFCC had a report of how he stole the sum of $4,500,000,000.00) in the process of winding up the activities of the Petroleum Trust Fund.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect had already received the sum of N2,000,000.00(Two Million Naira) from the petitioner and was arrested while attempting to withdraw the funds,” the anti-graft agency said.

It added that the suspect ill be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.