A Lagos-based couple, Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka and his wife, Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka, are in police custody over an alleged ₦320 million fraud.
The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Lagos State apprehended the duo after an extensive investigation into their activities.
Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Aminat Mayegun, confirmed the arrest.
She disclosed that detectives from the Anti-Fraud Section of the FCID acted swiftly after receiving a petition.
The petition was filed by Mr. Tochukwu Unachukwu, the Managing Director of Casco Electronics Company Limited.
According to ASP Mayegun, the petition detailed how the couple defrauded Mr. Unachukwu.
“On the 9th of September 2024, we received a petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police,” Mayegun stated.
She explained that the couple allegedly used their company accounts to facilitate the fraud.
The accounts, registered as Edunaco Multiple Resources Limited and Bright Janes World, were used to receive the funds.
Mr. Unachukwu reportedly paid ₦320 million between March and May 2024 for the procurement of USD 200,000.
The funds were meant to facilitate the supply of goods from China.
However, it was discovered that the promised goods never arrived.
Investigations also revealed forged documents, including a fake telex confirmation from Zenith Bank.
The fraudulent documents indicated transactions that never occurred, Mayegun added.
“Chinese suppliers confirmed they never received the funds,” she noted.
The FCID also seized a black 2024 Toyota Hilux from Chinedu Ngwaka during the operation.
The vehicle bore a fake Presidency number plate, raising further suspicion.
Ngwaka, who claimed to operate under the name Phobia BDC Ltd, was found to have no links to the company.
Checks with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed this.
The company’s license had been revoked earlier this year.
Mayegun revealed more damning evidence against the suspect.
“We recovered a fake ID card purportedly from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment,” she said.
The ID fraudulently identified Ngwaka as a consultant for the ministry.
A letter of introduction allegedly issued by the Head of Service of the Federation was also found.
The letter requested a Presidency number plate for Ngwaka, but authorities confirmed it was fake.
Further investigations revealed how the Toyota Hilux was imported and sold.
The vehicle, brought into Nigeria in June 2024, was sold through a local dealership after Ngwaka’s fraudulent transaction.
Mayegun highlighted other complaints against Ngwaka.
“There are petitions involving sums of ₦1 billion and ₦840 million,” she revealed.
Victims, including Mr. Moses Chizoba Enechukwu and Chinedu Nwaforcha, are seeking justice.
Police assured the public that Ngwaka and his wife would be prosecuted.
The couple faces multiple charges, including fraud, forgery, and impersonation.
Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Romokere Godgift Ibani, warned Nigerians against fraud.
He urged citizens to report suspicious activities to the authorities.
“Anyone involved in illegal activities will face the full weight of the law,” Ibani declared.
This case underscores the dangers of trusting unverified individuals with large sums of money.
Police continue to investigate other leads connected to the couple’s fraudulent schemes.
Authorities stress the importance of vigilance and due diligence in financial transactions.
Ngwaka’s claims of being a licensed Bureau De Change operator were proven false.
The FCID’s efforts highlight their commitment to tackling financial crimes in Nigeria.