By Chimezie Godfrey
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, 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 AnieboRichard, 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.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Commission’s Head of Media & Publicity officer, Wilson Uwujaren and made available to Newsdiaryonline.
Uwujaren disclosed that the fraudsters were arrested on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at their hideout in James Court, Lekki, Lagos, following verified intelligence received by the Commission about their alleged criminal activities.
He revealed that 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 unsuspecting victims.
According to him, investigations revealed that one of the suspects, Christian, allegedly defrauded an aged Asian-American lady of over $475, 000 (Four Hundred and Seventy -Five Thousand US Dollars).
“In his statement to the Commission, Christian confessed to have been posing as one Dave Federick, a 58- year- old United States national on a mission in Syria, in order to lure his unsuspecting 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,” he said.
Uwujaren disclosed that items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, Iphones, laptop computers, Android devices and Macbook devices.
He also said that the suspects will soon be charged to court.
