Internet Fraud: EFCC nabs 2 corps members, Unilorin, Kwara Poly students, 21 others
…another over alleged vote buying
By Ahmed Ajikobi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested two corps members and two students from the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) and Kwara State Polytechnic in Ilorin over internet fraud.
Also, arrested with the aforesaid quartet were 21 others and one Azeez Yakubu Afolayan for impersonating Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) and using his name to scam job seekers.
Among those arrested for internet fraud are; are Oluyomi Kadri, Adeseye Ogundele, Olasoji Alabi, Abdullahi Saliu, Abdullahi Ibrahim and Abolarin Kayode.
Others are Momoh Aminat, Momoh Nimota, Kelvin Blessing, Sunday Ruth and Oyinlola Awokunle.
Also apprehended are Chimezie Paul, Oluwakayode Adebayo, Mustapha Akeem, Ezedigboo Paschal, Mustapha Suleiman, Mohammed Umar Faruk, Abolarin Samuel Sunday, and Anolarin Ridwan Gbolahan.
The Zonal head of EFCC, Ilorin, Isyaku Sharu, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in his office, said that most of those arrested from January 2019 ”were vibrant, young and energetic youths, aged between 18 and 25.
“Among those arrested are two corps members, some students of University of Ilorin and others from the Kwara Polytechnic, including their girlfriends
“15 of them have been taken to court, while the remaining 10 girls are still under investigation until we find something against them,” he said.
Speaking further, Sharu said, during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, a man, Abdulkareem Abdulsalem, was nabbed for alleged vote buying by the commission.
“He was caught while sharing money to voters at unit 7, Kwara State College of Education in Ilorin.”
Sharu said that before the Presidential, National Assembly, Governorship and State Assemblies Elections, the commission embarked on an enlightenment programme on both the local media, English and Yoruba media warning citizens against vote buying
“ We informed them that vote buying was a criminal offence as structured in the Electoral procedure act.
“We published our numbers for people to call, and during the last Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, we got calls and we were able to arrest one person for vote buying and we will soon charge him to court,” he said.
Sharu said that the commission, in collaboration with the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), also arrested a fake Customs controller, who swindled members of the public, issuing them forms for employment and collecting huge sums of money.
“Unsuspected citizens were given forms for employment into the NCS by the suspect, who collected up to N500,000.
“He has since been charged to court,” he said.
He said the EFCC will collaborate with stakeholders in the state, like the security agents, law enforcement agents, traditional institution, corps members and students against economic and financial crimes in the state.
