BREAKING: EFCC Bursts Kogi Assembly candidate, recovers N326m, $610,500 cash
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ismaila Atumeyi, with N326 million and $140,500 cash.
Atumeyi who is contesting to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2022.
He was picked up alongside one Joshua Dominic, who’s an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation carried out at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Also arrested in connection with the fraud is former bank employee, Abdumalik Femi, who allegedly supplied the inside information that led to the success of the attack on the bank.
The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent that Femi was picked up on Tuesday, November 1, 2022 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos.
“Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu where a total of $470,000 USD was recovered.
“The arrest of the suspects followed months of investigation into the hacking of one of the commercial banks by a syndicate of fraudsters who pulled off a heist of N1.4billion,” he said.
Atumeyi and his men allegedly moved 887 million Naira into the account of Fav Oil and Gas limited, and then proceeded to pay several Bureau de Change operators and some auto dealers for exchange into United States dollars and purchase of expensive cars.
His accomplice, Dominic, who has severally been arrested for fraud, allegedly helped Atumeyi perfect the hacking plan through Abdumalik.
Dominic, is a self-styled investment expert and Managing Director of Brisk Capital Limited. He was arrested in May 2021 by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police for alleged N2 billion investment scam. He allegedly defrauded over 500 persons in a fake investment scheme.
Among the properties recovered were Two Range Rover Luxury SUVs from the two suspects arrested in Abuja.
Uwujaren noted that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.
Meanwhile, the EFCC expresses concern about the rise of cyber-attacks on banks and the reluctance of the institutions to report such breaches to law enforcement.
This News was first published and confirm by The PUNCH.
