The Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man who has posed as a Customs officer and defrauded people through the means.
The arrest of the culprit identified simply as Raji was informed by a petition from one Mrs. Uche to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti, alleging the suspect swindled her of N800,000 while posing as a Customs officer under the pretext that he and his gang would facilitate purchase of Customs auction vehicles, Daily Sun reports.
The commissioner directed that the matter should be duly investigated by the SARS boss, Mr Abba Kyari, and the suspect arrested.
During police questioning, Raji admitted to duping peple by posing as a senior customs officer and further disclosed the names of his other cohorts who were subsequently nabbed.
Confirming the incident, the state police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu said, “Raji posed as a Customs officer, one Thomas disguised as his driver while Ibrahim (a.k.a Galadima) provided the bank account which the victims paid in monies”
Raji had told his victims that he was the Customs officer in charge of auctioning and bore the name Shitu Musa when he wore a Chief Superintendent rank and Yakubu Lawal when he put on the uniform and rank of a Deputy Superintendent.
On different occasions, Raji had claimed to be a Superintendent and also Chief a Superintendent of Customs.
An anonymous senior police officer, said, “Raji claimed to be in charge of auctioning vehicles and containerized goods.
“He took his victims to Apapa Wharf and Tin Can Island Ports where he would show them goods and vehicles meant for auctioning.
“The gang allegedly duped one Mrs. Uche, a businesswoman of N800,000:00 with a promise to give her a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV). The victim paid the money through Ibrahim’s bank account. Ibrahim was arrested on February 14, 2015
In his confessional statement, Raji, [quote_box_center]
“ I was working in a textile mill in Isolo, but I was sacked when I fought an Indian. The Indian said that I damaged the machine I was operating. I am not really a Customs officer.
“I decided on my own to buy the uniform and was using it for business. I bought it at Customs Training School, Ikeja. I bought it and the kits from a tailor for N5,000. The tailor did not know I am a fake Customs officer. I was even arrested in 2013 by the Zone 2 Police Command for the same offence of impersonation.
“I was arrested by the IGP squad and released on bail. I was not taken to court because the court did not sit. I spent N120,000 to secure my bail.
“I used to go to the Customs Restaurant in Ikeja to drink beer .It was from there that I started understudying what Customs officers do. I bought the DSC uniform and rank in 2013. I bought the uniform and DSC rank because people respect the rank; I bought the uniform to do auction sales.
“I went to my victim’s shop where she sells beer at Unity Road, Ikeja. The woman gave me N800, 000 and I showed her a car at the Tin can Island port, she paid into Ibrahim’s account. l have duped some people also at Ilorin, I lied that I would give about 600 bags of rice for N3.5 million to her.
“I was in a serious mess in Abuja where I collected N4.2million from a victim, Alhaji Abubakar whom I promised to sell three Toyota Camry cars. The man I duped was an Assistant Director, Operations in NAFDAC.
“ I have been taken to court many times, but was lucky that I have not even gone to the prison. In most cases, I would be asked by the police to refund money to the victims.”
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