Suspected serial fraudster nabbed

Victims claim loss of over N500m
• Operates as agent of Presidency

The police have  arrested a suspected serial fraudster, simply identified as Alhaji Aliyu, for allegedly defrauding innocent people to the tune of hundreds of millions of naira.

According to Crime Watch investigation, the suspect had been on the wanted list of several anti-graft agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), both in Abuja and Lagos offices, the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the Ogun State Police Command.

After several months of discreet tracking and surveillance, the crack detectives from FCID, force headquarters in Abuja, nabbed him recently in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Crime Watch  was told that the detectives, after laying ambush for Alhaji Aliyu without much success, eventually trailed him to a restaurant where he was apprehended.

Impeccable police sources confided in Crime Watch that their offices had been inundated with several complaints about the alleged fraudulent activities of the suspect. According to sources the alleged hoax transactions in which the suspect was alleged to have fleeced his victims ran into N500 million or more.

According to investigation, Alhaji Aliyu was alleged to have hoodwinked his alleged victims by claiming to be agent of the Presidency on behalf of which he purportedly procured millions of naira worth of goods before absconding from the suppliers

His alleged victims, it was gathered include suppliers of goods, such as rice, sugar, and petroleum products.

In order to avoid identity link, the suspect was alleged to have cleverly concealed his identify, bearing different names in different locations.  For example, in Kano, he is known as Alhaji Seidu Zakari, in Ibadan, he is called Alhaji Habeeb while in Lagos he bears Alhaji Aliyu Sayyu.

When he was arrested and his residence searched, items allegedly recovered from him included letterhead with logo of the Presidency, letterhead of the Secretary to Government of the Federation and walkie-talkie, among others.

When he was arrested, he was first brought to Lagos where his residence in Magodo area was thoroughly searched before the team of detectives, led by a senior police officer from FCID, moved him to Abuja.

Further investigation revealed that he was suspected for theft of petroleum products, running into millions of naira in Kano where he was arraigned but allegedly absconded.

According to Crime Watch finding, the Kano office of the EFCC has also requested for the highly prized suspect, who is wanted for alleged roles in multiple fraud.

As soon as FCID moved the suspect to Abuja, the EFCC, Kano, wasted no time in requesting for him to be released to them to face trial.  The request was granted and he was released to the anti-graft zonal office in Kano.

Crime Watch gathered that he had been re-arraigned in Kano High Court where he was remanded in prison custody.

As investigation deepens into his activities, police source confirmed that he was brought from Kano to Abuja last week Wednesday in respect of petitions sent to the force CID by Mr. Gbenga of Shandy Ventures Limited and Mr. Mathew Imobekhai of Mattgrace Ventures Limited, through the solicitor, Eriata Odiana.

The petitioners wanted to ascertain the truth about a property in Magodo, which belonged to the suspect but which one Alhaji Dogo is claiming to have been sold to him.

During the meeting with his alleged victims, Alhaji Aliyu was said to have confirmed his ownership of the property situate at plot 6, block 6, Obafemi Omowaiye Street, Magodo Scheme 1, Isheri, Lagos, which the victims have been trying to attack in view of the alleged N145 million they allegedly lost to him through hoax business transactions.

Among the alleged victims of the suspect, which anti-graft agencies are probing apart from Shandy Ventures and Mattgrace Ventures Limited, are Tolulope Kowobari of EL SODATT Limited (N30m), and Funmi Edmond of Mitched Edmond (N18.2m).  The cases are being investigated by SFU, FCID, EFCC and Adeniji Adele             Police Station.

Crime Watch investigation further revealed that some of the victims, who are commodities distributors with Dangote Group.  It was gathered that they were introduced to the suspect by a female staff of the industrial conglomerate, simply identified as Esther.

During interrogation, the lady, while not denying, was said to have claimed that she introduced Aliyu to the victims in good faith, believing that he was a genuine businessman and politician, who had a link with the Presidency.The spiral of effect of the alleged fraudulent activities of the suspect has led to the indefinite suspension of a senior Manager of Zenith Bank in Alimosho area of Lagos State.

Impeccable sources at the various anti-corruption agencies and police formations currently investigating several complaints of alleged fraudulent transactions, involving the suspect may arraign him in turns, as soon as they conclude their investigation.

source: daily sun