The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign one Jonathan Odu Isikwei for unlawful possession of 448 Travellers Cheques. Isikwei, 51, a native of Igbodo in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta State, was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, by the Operatives of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during the outward clearance of passengers on a Belgium-bound flight. The case was transferred to the EFCC for further investigation.

The 448 Travellers’ Cheques recovered from Isikwei were discovered to purportedly belong to four banks in America, Europe and Canada. The banks and the Traveller’s Cheques are: Gun Nebo Inc. (Bank of Nova Scotia) – 117 pieces, Postbank Frankfurt – 258 pieces, Safe Federal Credit Union – 41 pieces and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) – 32 pieces.

All the Travellers’ Cheques were signed, with some having monetary value written on them. Among the Cheques belonging to Safe Federal Credit Union, 27 pieces were blank while 14 pieces of the Cheques have monetary value worth 322,800 US Dollars. Twenty Seven pieces of the Travellers’ Cheques belonging to Gun Nebo Canada Inc. were blank while 90 pieces of the cheques have monetary value worth 354,300 Canadian Dollars.

“The suspect who claims he exports dried fish from Nigeria to Belgium, told investigators that he collected the parcel for onward delivery to a friend without any knowledge of the content,” EFCC Spokesman Wilson Uwujiaren said.

In a related development, the EFCC is investigating the activities of one Pascal Onuora Udeh. The 34-year-old was arrested for being in possession of 108 pieces of Automated Teller Machine (ATM)/Debit cards.

The suspect, who claims to be a trader and an undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, is a native of Umudim Village of Obibi, Ochasi Ato, in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. He was arrested by NDLEA operatives at MMIA during the outward clearance of passengers on a Qatar Airline flight to China.

The suspect alleged that the Debit cards were given to him by his business associates to use in China to purchase men’s wears.

The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

•Photo shows Jonathan Odu Isikwei.

Update news