The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) says its operatives have arrested Chinedu Ngwaka, a self-proclaimed bureau de change (BDC) operator, for alleged fraud to the tune of N320 million.

In a statement posted on her X page, Aminat Mayegun, FCID spokesperson in Lagos, said Ngwaka also used a fraudulent presidency number plate on his Toyota Hilux vehicle.

The FCID spokesperson said the suspect was also apprehended with a fake identity card.

Mayegun said the police received a petition on September 9 addressed to Ayodeji Ogundele, assistant inspector general of Police (AIG), FCID annex in Lagos.

“On September 9, 2024, the Nigeria Police Force received a petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, FCID Annex, Lagos, from Chinedu Laz and Partners (Deo Gratia Chambers) on behalf of Mr Tochukwu Unachukwu, the Managing Director of Casco Electronics Company Limited,” the statement reads.

“The petition filed was against Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka and his wife, Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka, of being involved in a fraudulent scheme amounting to N320m.

“Upon receipt of the petition, detectives from the Special Investigations Team of the anti-fraud Section attached to Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, swiftly swung into the intelligence-led investigation.

“The team reviewed relevant banking records and secured a warrant of arrest, which led to the apprehension of Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka, a self-acclaimed Licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator.”

The spokesperson said further investigation revealed that between March and May 2024, Unachukwu made payments totalling N320 million to Ngwaka and his wife.

“Unachukwu made payment of N320 million through Ngwaka company accounts, Edunaco Multiple Resources Limited and Bright Janes World, for the procurement of $200,000 USD to facilitate the supply of goods from China,” Mayegun said.

“However, additional intelligence uncovered fraudulent document, including a telex confirmation from Zenith Bank, which purportedly shows the completion of the transactions in two $100,000 USD tranches.

“The Chinese suppliers confirmed that no such funds were received. During the operation, the SIT recovered a black 2024 Toyota Hilux with a fraudulent Presidency number plate (02B679FG) from Ngwaka, who falsely claimed to operate under the name Phobia BDC Ltd.

“Verification with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) confirmed that he had no association with the company in any form, and that the company’s license has been revoked earlier in the year.

“Additionally, a fake identity card, purportedly issued by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, was discovered, fraudulently identifying Ngwaka as a consultant of the ministry.

“Another letter of introduction addressed ‘to whom it may concern’, purportedly issued by the Head of Service of the Federation, seeking allocation of presidency number plate to the suspect was also recovered from him.

“Relevant authorities have confirmed the illegitimacy of the document.

“The investigation further revealed that the Toyota Hilux, imported into Nigeria in June by Humble Autos, who sold same to a local dealership, Don-Neiel Automobiles Nigeria who subsequently sold to Ngwaka, after he had engaged in the fraudulent transaction with Unachukwu.”

Mayegun added that there were “other petitions against Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka, including claims from Mr. Moses Chizoba Enechukwu and Chinedu Nwaforcha, seeking the recovery of ₦1 billion and ₦840,000,000 respectively”.

The FCID spokesperson said Ngwaka, alongside his co-conspirators, will be charged to court at the end of the investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Oluyomi Omobolanle Bombata, known as ‘Bobo Chicago,’ for allegedly being involved in a $2.8 million email scam and money laundering scheme.

According to online media outlet Peoples Gazette, the 25-year-old allegedly terrorised fellow Nigerians living in the Houston metro area before fleeing to Chicago, where he established residency.

He is currently facing a five-count charge, including wire fraud, conspiracy, and unlawful monetary transactions.

Federal agents were said to have identified $2.8 million in funds linked to Bombata, which were obtained by hacking into the accounts of various companies and individuals in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Investigators also discovered that Bombata transferred over $300,000 of these funds to a well-known liquor store, leading to the store owner’s implication in the scheme.

This case adds to a growing list of high-profile Nigerian fraudsters caught by U.S. authorities, including Ramon Abbas (Hushpuppi) and Olalekan Jacob Ponle (Mr. Woodberry), both serving sentences for multi-million-dollar scams.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed Edith Uduma, an inspector, for allegedly collecting a bribe from Abraham Uzuobo, a sergeant, to conceal a rape incident.

Uzuobo was accused of raping a 17-year-old female suspect in a room inside South-Ibie police station in Edo state.

The suspect was detained at the police station for allegedly receiving stolen property.

In October, a video showing Uzuobo hurriedly wearing his trousers while the female suspect was lying on a chair inside a room in the police station appeared on social media.

In the video, Uzuobo was challenging a female officer for recording the incident.

The female officer in the background of the video was later identified as Uduma.

Uduma was the charge room officer (CRO) on duty on the day the incident happened.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Muyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said Uduma called her husband, Ibrahim Mohammed, a police inspector, instead of reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities.

Adejobi said Uduma and her husband demanded a N1 million bribe from Uzuobo to assist him in concealing the incident.

The force spokesperson said Uzuobo offered the couple N45,000.

“However, the sergeant offered only N45,000 in cash, which they collected at that instance, and after a few days, contacted the sergeant to request the same sum of N1,000,000, but the sergeant refused to comply,” Adejobi said.

“Dissatisfied by his refusal to follow through with the blackmail, they decided to report the erring officer to the DPO and also simultaneously share the video on social media.

“Everyone culpable in this case has been sanctioned appropriately, as there is no intention to impede justice.

“The erring sergeant has been dismissed and prosecuted and is currently in prison custody as the trial progresses.

“Inspector Edith Uduma was also dismissed for her role, while her complicit husband has been reduced to the rank of sergeant.

“However, it has come to the attention of the force that following her dismissal, Mrs. Edith has made numerous unfounded claims regarding her innocence and has sought to taint the reputation and integrity of the adjudicating authority, the inspector-general of police, in person and the entire police force.

“It is imperative to set the record straight and provide clear context regarding her actions and the decision to dismiss her from service.

“The dismissal of former police inspector Edith Uduma was not only justified but necessary, based on thorough investigations that presented irrefutable evidence of her failure to follow standard incident report protocol to immediately document the incident, attempt to conceal an offender for benefit, participation in extortion, and manipulating the justice process for personal gain.”