The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday quizzed the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Bamidele Oleyelogun, over his involvement in alleged N2.4million fraud.
A source said: “The commission had received a petition accusing the Speaker of being involved in the diversion to private use, about N2,440,000, which had been released for a purported seminar in December 2019 that never held.
“His invitation and subsequent interrogation are coming after the EFCC had quizzed members of the House Committee on Tertiary Education.
“The Speaker on Thursday (yesterday) honored the commission’s invitation and has volunteered his statement.”
The EFCC has arrested 35 suspects for alleged internet-related fraud.
Among the suspects was a social media influencer, Nwagbo Oliver Chidera.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the suspects will soon be arraigned.
The statement said: “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the EFCC have arrested an Instagram comedian and social media influencer, Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, also known as Pankeeroy, alongside 34 others for their alleged involvement in computer-related fraud in Lagos.
“The other suspects are Chinedu Omesu Christian, Gafar Kunle Adedamola, Chuka Aniebo Richard, Nwagbo Chidera Oliver, Dibo Ayomide Samson, Rotimi Segun Damilola, Habeeb Banire Damilola, Afolabi Bolutife Michael, Adekanbi Elijah Adeola, Emeka Christian Egwuatu, Adeyemi Adedamola Olumide, Awokoya Moyosore Iyaniwura, Efunnuga Dmilola Samuel, Samson Makinde Egwuatu, Gbemileke Jide Simeon, Omoyemi Fashola Owolabi, and Farouk Ibiwoye Olatunde.
“Others are Orapitan Yomi Segun, Oladunjoye Taiwo Olawale, Ibrahim Ajani Olanrewaju, Wasiu Olamilekan Sola, Olamiposi Toheeb Damilola, Isieq Qudus Olamilekan, Abel Ndubuisi Junior, Emmanuel Nonso Martins, Timilehin Oladipo Jesse, Kelvin Okpere Kendal, Omotola Oluwatobi Emmanuel, Rasaq Toyosi Farouq, Oyelere Olawale Shakiru, Timileyin Odeyemi Damilare, Kelly John Nwanou, Adedeji Emmanuel Olayinka, Balogun Subomi Ibrahim, and Makinde Adewale Benjamin.
“They were arrested on Wednesday at their hideout at James Court, Lekki, Lagos, following verified intelligence received by the commission about their alleged criminal activities.
“Until his arrest, Chidera, who claimed to have gone into Bitcoin scam after he suffered depression, had been presenting himself as a vendor who redeems Bitcoin vouchers using the bitcoincoretrading.com platform to defraud his victims.
“Investigations showed that one of the suspects, Christian, allegedly defrauded an aged Asian-American woman of over $475,000 (Four Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand US Dollars).
In his statement to the commission, Christian confessed to having been posing as one Dave Federick, a 58-year-old United States national on a mission in Syria, to lure his victims and defraud them of their hard-earned money.
“Upon his arrest, a Mercedes Benz AMG GLE model worth N36,000,000 (Thirty-six Million Naira) was recovered from him.
“Investigations also revealed that the suspect has N22,300,000. 00 (Twenty- two Million, Three Hundred Naira) worth of Bitcoin in his blocked chain account.
“Items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, iPhones, Laptops, Android devices, and Macbook devices.
“The suspects will soon be arraigned.”
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