Inegbenesun 30years, Blessed Junior 32years, and Muhammed Zakari
36years, all-male from Uromi in Edo State, for cyber-related offences
including advance fee fraud, money laundering, and romance scam.
The suspects were arrested in Uromi, following investigations into
suspected fraudulent online procurement and supply of COVID-19
protective mask, received through the INTERPOL NCB Wiesbaden, Germany.
Investigations reveal that Samson Inegbenosun is an internet fraudster
and a member of a Turkey-based online scamming syndicate. He supplies
foreign and local bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds and uses the
same as a conduit to other feeder accounts. Meanwhile, the Police have
recovered from him, a building apartment worth N20,000,000.00, a Toyota
RAV-4 2015 model worth N6,500,000.00, and a Toyota Matrix 2002 model
valued at N2,000,000.00 which he procured with the proceeds of the
crime.
The second suspect, Blessed Junior, returned to Nigeria from Italy in
February 2020 but maintains close contacts and illicit dealings with his
Italian associates. Investigations reveal that he has made over One
Hundred and Twenty Million Naira (N120,000,000.00) from internet fraud
and other cybercrime dealings. He also received the sum of 52,000 EUROs
recently from his criminal associates in Italy as commission for his
active involvement in an international cybercrime deal.
He also owns a filling station established with the proceeds of the
crime.
Mohammed Zakari, an expert in internet fraud, identity theft, and
impersonation, falsely claims to be a British citizen. He also poses to
be one Kelly Galk on online dating apps which he uses to carry out
romance scams and to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, locally
and internationally. Investigation reveals he has made millions of naira
from his illicit cybercrime transactions since he joined the syndicate.
In a similar development, Police operatives have successfully rescued an
American citizen who was confined in a Lagos hotel where she was held
against her wish for over a year. The victim who hails from Washington
DC, USA, and is a retired civil servant in the US, arrived Nigeria on
13th February 2019 on a visit to one Chukwuebuka Kasi Obiaku, 34years
old, a native of Ikeduru LGA of Imo State whom she met on Facebook.
She was however rescued by Police operatives attached to the
Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Ogun State Annex following information
received from a patriotic and civic-minded Nigerian in the Meran area of
Lagos State. The rescue of the American lady is coming on the heels of a
similar case of abducted Philippino lady who was lured to Nigeria by her
supposed lover whom she equally met on Facebook.
Investigations reveal that the suspect, Chukwuebuka Kasi Obiaku is a
graduate of Business Administration and Management and an internet
fraudster who has defrauded many unsuspecting members of the public both
locally and internationally. Chukwuebuka deliberately lured the victim
into the country under the pretext of love and deceitfully married her
on 15th May 2019.
He subsequently held her captive in a hotel, extorted from her monies
amounting to a total of 48,000-USD. He also forcefully collected and
took control of her credit and debit cards as well as the operation of
her bank accounts including the receipt of her monthly retirement
benefits and allowances over the period of fifteen (15) months.
Chukwuebuka also used the victim as a front to defraud her associates
and other foreign personalities and companies.
All the suspects will be charged to court on the conclusion of the
investigation and prosecuted in line with the Cybercrime
Prevention/Prohibition Act, 2015.