EFCC Arrests Three Suspected Impostors for N73.8m Securities Scam
By Adetokunbo Fakeye
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested three suspected fraudsters involved in forgery, personation and fraudulent sale of shares to the tune of N73,764,428( Seventy Three Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Four Hundred Twenty Eight Naira ).
According to EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the trio, Muhammed Rabiu Lawan (a.k.a Alhaji Shande Ako Dzungwe and Alhaji Isa Koto); Raphael Olorunfemi Okomoda, Adebgesan Theophilius and four others who are still at large, were arrested by operatives of the Commission following a report of fraudulent sale of shares of two deceased shareholders by the suspects.
The stocks, he said originally belong to Alhaji Shande Ako Dzungwe and Alhaji Isa Koto (both deceased) but were fraudulently claimed, converted and sold by the three suspects.
Lawan allegedly forged spurious Identity Cards, Drivers License; School Certificates and International Passports of both Dzungwe and Koto, to perfect the scam.
Investigations, it was said showed that, Dzungwe died in1992 but before his death, he had shares in several blue chip companies including, Agip Nigeria Limited, Total Oil, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Unilever Nigeria Plc and Nigeria Brewery Plc.
The shares according to EFCC were on the record of First Registrars Limited and Union Registrar Limited. The value of his portfolio was N24, 779,998(Twenty-Four Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira). The entire sum was fraudulently claimed by Lawan, who forged documents of the deceased investor and took over his investments.
Before his demise, it was revealed, Koto had 166,625 units of Guinness Nigeria Plc shares valued at N44, 092,048(Forty-Four Million, Ninety-Two Thousand, Forty-Eight Naira only) in his portfolio.
Lawan allegedly instructed Fidelity Securities Limited to sell and transfer the proceeds of the shares into his two Fidelity Bank accounts.
The total sum of shares converted and sold by Lawan was N73, 764,428(Seventy Three Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Four Hundred Twenty Eight Naira only).
He was allegedly aided and abetted by Raphael Olorunfemi Okomoda and Adegbesan Theophillus.
EFCC said the suspects will soon be arraigned in court.
