The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two suspected fraudsters for allegedly stealing the sum of $2,250,000 from two bankers.
The suspects, Uwem Antia and Alhaji Yerima Suleman, allegedly approached the bankers, Gladys Aginwa and Ale Dennis, in February, 2015, offering to sell foreign exchange to the tune of $10,000,000 USD to them.
After agreeing on the exchange rate, a sum of N672, 750,000 was transferred from BlueBeam Capital Investment Limited and Capital Field Investment and Trust Limited into the account of one of the bankers: Smiles and Light Limited. It was from the banker’s account that the entire sum was moved into Antia’s account: Kafisto Oil and Gas Limited.
According to the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, “findings showed that the entire sum of N672, 750,000 actually hit Antia’s account. A Bureau de Change operator who changed the money into its dollar equivalent, told EFCC’s investigators that he went with Antia to his bank along Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the transaction was confirmed.
The Bureau de Change operator further said that, Antia subsequently transferred the sum of N666, 250,000 into his own account. He said he worked out the dollar equivalent of the money, which was $3,127,000. He said he could only give $3,124,000 to Antia, leaving a balance of $3,000, which he promised to give him the next day.
“Immediately Antia collected the foreign exchange, he reportedly headed for Number 17A, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the two bankers and his accomplice, Suleman were waiting for him. However, rather than handing over the entire foreign exchange to the bankers, he only gave them $1,000,000, claiming that he could not source the entire amount.
