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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into a 38-year-old man, Raheem Abiodun Wasiu, over allegations that he defrauded Bureau de Change (BDC) operators of $12,000 across parts of southern Nigeria.
Wasiu was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following a complaint by Ezekulie Stanley Chukwuamuanya, a BDC operator who alleged that the suspect obtained $5,000 from him after presenting what turned out to be a fake bank transfer.
The suspect is now being questioned by operatives of the EFCC Enugu Zonal Directorate.
Preliminary findings by investigators indicate that Wasiu allegedly posed as a wealthy contractor to gain the confidence of his targets. He reportedly rented Toyota Hilux vehicles, moved around with escorts and approached BDC operators with promises of making naira payments for dollars.
Investigators allege that after collecting the foreign currency, he would display a purported bank transfer notification to convince his victims that payment had been made.
Recounting his encounter with the suspect, Chukwuamuanya said he handed over the dollars after Wasiu had counted and confirmed the money. The suspect subsequently requested his bank details and allegedly showed him the account name that appeared on his banking application.
According to the petitioner, Wasiu then claimed that the transfer had been completed, but the expected alert did not arrive. He reportedly attributed the delay to a network problem and asked Chukwuamuanya to leave, assuring him that the money would reflect later.
The petitioner said the suspect subsequently stopped responding to his calls.
Another complainant, Chief Nwaoha Ubaferem of Owerri, Imo State, alleged that Wasiu similarly obtained $7,000 from him.
Ubaferem said he initially had $2,600 and arranged for another $4,400 to be brought to him after the suspect requested the full $7,000. The transaction was eventually completed at Royce Road after the suspect reportedly complained about being pressed for time.
According to the petitioner, Wasiu collected the money and claimed that the transfer had gone through after confirming his name, but the expected payment alert never arrived.
EFCC investigators further allege that Wasiu may have used the same method in several locations across the South-East and Akwa Ibom State, targeting BDC operators.
Items reportedly recovered from him include a Toyota Hilux with registration number KTR 379 AA, several bank ATM cards, transfer tokens, a digital National Identification Number slip bearing the name Sunday Abiodun, complimentary cards identifying him as Engineer Abiodun, an Emporio Armani designer bag, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, a Samsung phone, a pocket Wi-Fi device, a Patek Philippe wristwatch, vehicle documents, a gold bangle and a pair of Alexander McQueen shoes.
The EFCC said investigations are ongoing and that the suspect will be arraigned before a court once the process is concluded.
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