DELTA – The Police Command on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 arrested a man for allegedly being part of a network that has defrauded over 327 widows and petty traders of over N1.6 million.
The fraudsters, according to Police spokesperson Mrs. Tina Kalu, specialised in defrauding vulnerable widows and petty traders by claiming to be coordinators of a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) established by Patience Jonathan.
71-year-old Anene Nwokoye, who works in the Security Department at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State, however denied the allegations.
One of the victims, Mrs. Monu Olubunmi, told the Police in September 2013 that an accomplice of the gang, Ameachi Ndah, introduced her to the principal suspect, Adaeze Nwokoye, now at large, and coordinator of an NGO; Women Relief and Restoration Initiative.
It was learnt that the victims paid N3,000 for membership and another N2,000 to be eligible for loans. They were then told that Mrs. Jonathan would inaugurate the local chapter on December 14.
Olubunmi reportedly became suspicious after Adaeze stopped picking her calls, she later lured the co-ordinator by informing her that N250,000 paid by prospective members was up for collection. The victim said the suspect’s husband, Anene, came to Asaba with 78 membership forms and was arrested by the police.
Some of the victims, who thronged the “A” Division, hailed the arrest of the principal suspect’s husband.
But Nwokoye denied the allegations. He reportedly said, “I was in the office when my wife called me from Lagos, asking me to take 78 membership forms to Asaba to give to a woman and I was arrested by the police. I do not know anything about this crime they are alleging I committed.”
