Police Fraud Unit Recovers N435m, Files 90 Cases

Adelowo Oladipo, Lagos - 05.01.2008

The Police Special Fraud Units (SFU) has said that it has so far recovered N435 million in six months while it has also filed about 90 cases in various courts since its resuscitation by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, in June 2007.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the SFU, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, disclosed this in a statement he made available to news-men on Friday.

Balogun said about 350 cases were being investigated by the anti-fraud unit of the police.

He said about 500 cases have so far been reported to the SFU by various organisations and individuals in the last seven months. Thirty-five vehicles have also been recovered from suspects.

The police boss said the SFU was investigating a case of $50,000 fraud reported to it by an American, Maria Thomas, against a Nigerian, Frank Churchill.

Thomas said she met Churchill through an Internet dating site. He said the complaint was filed on December 27, 2007.

Churchill allegedly took the $50,000 from her to settle an unidentified Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official.

Balogun added, “Eventually, the complainant, who is based in Texas, claimed that the name of the person to whom the money should be paid, her office number, home addresses and phone number were sent to her for the said amount to be paid to her while she (Thomas) was directed to forward all correspondences and payment to the person, Eunice Chibuzo Nwaidgwe Nwankwere (now in police cell), whom Frank Churchill described as the Permanent Secretary to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Charles Soludo.”