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The
intensive manhunt for suspected fake
officials of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC has continued to
yield positive results as operatives
swooped on yet another top notcher of
the syndicate which specializes in using
the name of the anti-graft agency to
extort money from unsuspecting members
of the public.
The
latest arrest is coming on the heels of
the parade of two secondary school
leavers who were trying to use the name
of the Commission to extort N15 million
from a PDP chieftain.
The
arrest of Chief Victor Ositah Uwajeh in
his Wuse II Abuja residence on Wednesday
January 13, 2010 followed an
intelligence report which indicates that
he was parading himself as a staff of
the EFCC and using his fake identity to
defraud members of the public.
A team
of operatives was subsequently mandated
to trail and arrest him after a discreet
investigation confirmed the initial
report.
The
search for Uwajeh however, led to his
arrest on the 13th January in
his Wuse II residence where a search
warrant was executed, leading to the
recovery of incriminating items.
Some of
the items recovered from the suspect’s
house include a pack of complimentary
cards with EFCC’s logo and address
bearing the suspect’s name, fake EFCC
letter head papers, a petition with EFCC
acknowledgement stamp, five assorted
vehicles including a hummer jeep, Honda
jeep, Toyota Land cruiser Jeep and a
Hilux jeep.
The
suspect’s trick leaked following his
attempt to use the name of the
Commission to extort two million dollars
from a suspect being prosecuted by the
EFCC.
In view
of this, the Commission wishes to
implore members of the public who must
have fallen victims of Uwajeh’s tricks
to come forward with useful information
that will help the EFCC in its
investigation and prosecution of the
suspect.
While
the suspect is still being detained on a
court order pending his formal
arraignment in court, the Commission
will also like to emphasize that it does
not take money from individuals or
organizations before their cases are
investigated just as it will not do same
to favour any party in a case. Claims by
these elements to represent top
officials of the Commission in their bid
to negotiate fees are equally fraudulent
and should be reported to the Chairman
of the EFCC.
Members
of the public are therefore urged to
resist giving money to anyone who claims
to represent the EFCC over any matter
and should immediately report any demand
for money or suspected illegal activity
to the Chairman of the Commission.
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