Police arrest man over N320m scam

One Chinedu Ngwaka has been taken into custody by members of the Special Investigations Team, which is part of the Force Criminal Investigations Department Annex in Lagos State, on suspicion of participating in a N320 million scam. 

Ngwaka, a self-described Bureau De Change operator, was also charged with using a phoney Identity Card that was allegedly given by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, as well as a phoney Presidency license plate on his Toyota Hilux car. 

The Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos State, Mayegun Aminat, released this information in a message on Wednesday on her X handle, #mayegunAmina.

The statement partly read, “On September 9, 2024, the Nigeria Police Force received a petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID Annex, Lagos, from Chinedu Laz and Partners (Deo Gratia Chambers) on behalf of Mr Tochukwu Unachukwu, the Managing Director of Casco Electronics Company Limited, against Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka and his wife, Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka, of being involved in a fraudulent scheme amounting to N320m.

“Upon receipt of the petition, detectives from the Special Investigations Team of the anti-fraud Section attached to Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, swiftly swung into the intelligence-led investigation. The team reviewed relevant banking records and secured a warrant of arrest, which led to the apprehension of Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka, a self-acclaimed Licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator.

“Further investigation revealed that between March and May 2024, Mr Unachukwu made payments totalling N320m to Ngwaka and his wife through their company accounts, Edunaco Multiple Resources Limited and Bright Janes World for the procurement of USD 200,000 to facilitate the supply of goods from China.

“However, additional intelligence uncovered fraudulent documents, including a telex confirmation from Zenith Bank, which purportedly shows the completion of the transactions in two USD 100,000 tranches. The Chinese suppliers confirmed that no such funds were received.

Aminat noted that the police operatives also received other petitions against Ngwaka, “including claims from Mr Moses Chizoba Enechukwu and Chinedu Nwaforcha, seeking the recovery of ?1 billion and ?840m respectively.

Source