Date Published: 03/01/10

EFCC detains American over $760,668 counterfeit cheques

The  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission , EFCC, has detained a 24 year old American lady, Sharon Denis Thorpe, over her involvement in a counterfeit cheque scam valued at $760, 668.

Thorpe, a resident of  Raleigh North Carolina , was arrested at the  Murtala Mohammed Airport , Lagos on Saturday while about to board a  Qatar Airways flight  to  Washington DC .

The suspect who parades an American passport No. 457647779 issued at  North Carolina ,USA  , on  December 30 , 2008, had been in Nigeria  since November 2009, ostensibly on vacation with one Musediku Akorede Kehinde, her fiancé, who is believed to be the mastermind of the crime.

Thorpe has however told her interrogators that the counterfeit cheques were given to her by one Femi  Atoms, a friend of Musediku who is at large.

Thorpe, arrested by officials of the  State Security Service , SSS, was handed over to the EFCC on  February 24 , 2010.

The suspect is presently being interrogated .