By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A 35-year-old man, Izuchukeu Nwabueze, has been arrested by police operatives attached to Zonal CID Zone 13, Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, for allegedly defrauding people of huge sums of money posing as an aide to the zonal Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG).

The suspect, an indigene of Ukpo, is also accused of using the false identity to defraud unsuspecting traders and bourgeoisies in the state of their hard-earned money.

The Zonal Public Relations Officer (ZPRO), DSP Nkeiruka Nwode, said Wednesday in a statement that the suspect pretended to be raising funds for the furnishing of an unknown Residential Quarters and for the installation of a Sound Proof Generating Set for the AIG. She said that he, in the process, cornered some influential people in the state and collected a total of N7.3 million from them.

She added: “The said suspect, Chief Izuchukwu Nwabueze, also obtained with false pretence from the following persons: Sir Chidi Igor Okoye N240,000, Benson Okoye N185,000, Umugama village N100,000, Prince Okoyeze N100,000, Hon Sir Chukwudi Okeke N210,000, Prof Anika Sylvanus N50,000, Chief Nnamdi Egbuha Gas cylinder, Engr Ndubuisi Onwuakpa, One Horse Power Air Conditioner.

“The suspect also defrauded the sum of N1,000,000 from one Ifeanyi Umeh Lovelyn on behalf of the Anglican Bishop of Awka; Alexander Ibezim.

“The suspect had also approached Mr. Akunwata Chuka Modebe Esq to join him in the forum he created to support the creation and activities of the newly created Zone 13 Police headquarters and allegedly convinced him to pay the sum of 1million naira on the 1st of September 2020.

“In the same vein, he also approached one Mr. Stanley Chibuzor, the CEO Brost Global Resources, and collected the sum of N500,000 from him to allegedly enlist him in his Stakeholders forum, another N370,000 to purchase an IPad for the AIG, and yet another N1,150,000 for the furnishing of the office of the Personal Assistant to the AIG and when Chibuzor requested for the refund of his money, the said Izuchukwu gave him a Fidelity Bank cheque of N1,150,000 belonging to CHRISKWIK VENTURES LIMITED of 32 ISA WILLIAMS STREET, OKEARIN, LAGOS STATE which he presented to the bank but was bounced.”

According to Nwode, others defrauded by the suspect include Hon. Sir Chris Okeke and High Chief Nwaigwe Daniel, both of G20 Foundation Awka.

She said that the suspect has voluntarily confessed to the crime and that investigation is still ongoing after which he will be charged to court.

Meanwhile, the AIG Zone 13 Ukpo, DanMalam Mohammed, has called on members of the public who may have been defrauded by Nwabueze to report to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigations Department, DCP Echeng Echeng.

He also cautioned the public “to be wary of this new trend of criminal activity and report suspicions actions or persons through the Zone’s emergency number 08060463492 or the nearest police station or Command for prompt response.”