29 year old Henry Ogu has been arrested by the Nigerian Police Force for his involvement in a romance scam that saw an American woman fleeced of $350,000 (N52 million).
The Special Frauds Unit division of the Nigerian Police Force also arrested his accomplice, a 42 year old man, Yunusa Okonkwo for his involvement in the scam.
Police spokesperson, DSP Ngozi Isintume-Agu, released a statement on the matter.
The statement reads, “The victim, a US citizen resident in New Jersey, alleged that sometime in April 2013, she met Ogu on a dating site and both started a relationship which lasted for months until the suspect manipulated and made her to believe that he was in financial trouble in Nigeria.
“She further stated that she sent $350,000.00 to the two account numbers that Ogu provided. The account numbers were Skye Bank Account Number 36204796 and Ecobank account No. 04087350 belonging to Faneece Business Services International.”
The accounts were found to belong to Mr. Okonkwo who operates a Bureau de Change.
“Okonkwo confessed that he was the account holder of Faneece Business Services International and admitted that he had provided his two bank accounts for the illicit transactions.
“He also said Ogu had provided him with his account number, where he transferred the money after converting it to naira. He gave Ogu’s account details as Diamond Bank account No. 0021206871 with account name Raydeus Synergy Nigeria Limited.
“Okonkwo added that he had deducted his commission of N2 per dollar before paying the money to Ogu.”
The statement added, “Ogu confessed that he deceived the victim into believing that he wanted to marry her, but was stranded in Nigeria and needed financial assistance. He said that he had spent all the money; N9m was used to purchase a heavy duty generator which has been recovered by the police. He had also purchased a plot of land for N800,000 along the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway. A cash sum of N2m was also recovered from him.
“Investigation is ongoing. Effort is being intensified towards the recovery of the remaining money that was fraudulently obtained from the complainant or its proceeds. Suspects will be charged to court to serve as a deterrent to others.
“The Commissioner of Police, SFU, Mr. Umar Idris, uses this medium to reassure the public of the Unit’s commitment to fight internet fraudsters and advises that such cases should be promptly reported to the unit.”
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