In what may be
described as the biggest catch of the new year, the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, has smashed a syndicate of suspected fraudsters who
duped their victims, within and outside Nigeria, over N300million in cases
involving different fake crude oil deals.
Two members of the syndicate, Michael
Oghenemi Morowie and Emmanuel Owoicho, are currently in the custody
of EFCC, explaining their involvement in the alleged crude oil scam. Continue the story after the cut......
Suspect, Emmanuel Owoicho
Suspect, Michael Oghenemi
EFCC moved against the syndicate following
complainants by victims, who have been fleeced by the alleged fraudsters who
operate, using different pseudo names and companies.
An unsuspecting victim alleged that members
of the syndicate collected the sum of N119million from him in the pretext of
supplying him two million barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil. According
to him, the oil supply documents, which were purportedly obtained from the
NNPC, were, however, found to be fakes.
In the course of investigation, operatives of
EFCC quizzed one Samson Lawal Omobere of Etsam Oil and Gas Limited, who
admitted to have collected the total sum of money from the complainant.
Omobere alleged that he transferred a
substantial part of the money to Magnificent Marine Services Limited.
This led to the arrest of one Michael Oghenemi
Morowie, a director in Magnificent Marine Services Limited, who allegedly
withdrew over 358, 000USD and N11, 700,000 from the company’s account under the
names of Boma Harry, Peterson Harry and Elder Dan Jumbo.
Four drivers’ licences bearing his photograph
under the name of Michel O. Morowei as well as several other scam documents
from his email address were recovered from his house.
In another case that has now become an
albatross around their necks, members of the syndicate also allegedly obtained
the sum of N300, 000 from another victim, a Kenyan citizen resident in Germany.
The syndicate had allegedly sold the same
dummy of supplying him two million barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil, using the
same modus operandi.
Also, the EFCC is investigating the notorious
syndicate over an alleged case of obtaining the sum of N102.8 million from
another complainant under the pretense of supplying him two million barrels of
Bonny Light crude oil. A certain Emmanuel Owoicho of Owoema Resources Limited,
confessed to have collected the sum of N15million from the complainant.
Oworicho, the principal suspect, allegedly
directed the complainant to pay the bulk money to some bank accounts, including
Allen Logic Ways Unique Services Limited.
Acting on this lead, EFCC arrested one
Michael Oghenemi and recovered the letter head of Allen Logic Ways Unique
Services, which was registered in the name of Pabor Wariowei, from his house.
Other documents recovered from his house
included four drivers’ licences bearing his photographs but under different
names like Fubara Dan Jumbo, Doma Henry and Peterson Henry.
The sum of N14million was allegedly
transferred to Standard Allied Universal Concept registered by Fubara Dan
Jumbo, one of the pseudo names used by the suspects.
Another suspected member of the syndicate,
one Victoria T. Pam, allegedly approached the Federal Ministry of Trade and
Investment with an export clearance permit No. CP/ co/26/ Vol.1/ 22, which she
claimed emanated from the Ministry, and Sales and Purchase Agreement(
SPA) of N350,000 metric tons of LPO allegedly between NNPC and Fragola Holdings
Limited.
However, following scrutiny by the Ministry,
the documents were found to be fakes. When the suspect was eventually arrested,
she claimed to have got the document from one Mike Adams, who was allegedly
working in Bonny Terminal, Rivers State.
The suspect further disclosed that Adams had
been collecting proceeds from the deal via Standard Allied Universal Concepts
Limited.
The suspects will be charged to court as soon
as investigation is concluded.
Source: EFCC Website
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