Juliana Francis
The Enugu State Police Command said it has arrested a fake philanthropist and recovered fraudulently obtained bags of rice.
The Police spokesman, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, Daniel Ndukwe, said that but for the swift response of Police Operatives serving in the Ogui Police Division of Enugu State Command, one Nnamani Joseph, 45, would have successfully defrauded a businessman of 18 bags of rice valued at about N400,000.00, under the guise of buying and using the rice for charity at a church.
Ndukwe explained that on February 14, 2024, Valentine’s Day, Nnamani went to the premises of a church in Ogui, Enugu, from where he called the businessman on the phone, requesting 18 pieces of 25 kg bags of rice valued at N400,000 under the pretence of wanting to use the same for charity to the church.
Ndukwe said: “The businessman accordingly supplied the rice and unsuspectingly followed Nnamani to the bank to receive his payment through bank transfer.
“But in the course of effecting the payment, Nnamani secretly left the bank, went back to the church, and made away with the bags of rice to an unknown destination. The suspect, however, could not run or hide for so long, as the Police Operatives, upon receiving the report, embarked on an intelligence-driven investigation, which led to his arrest on January 20, 2024, at Enene, Enugu.
“Also, eight out of the 18 25 kg bags of rice were recovered from him, after he had re-bagged and sold the other bags at Oye Enene Market, Enugu. The suspect and his cohorts will surely have a date with the court of law once investigations are concluded.
“The citizenry, particularly businessmen and women, are hereby advised to always be security conscious and wary of whom and how they transact in such circumstances, to avoid falling prey to fraudulent suspects like Nnamani.
“Additionally, while the investigation lasts, person(s) who may have suffered a similar act of fraud by the suspect, are encouraged to report to the mentioned Police Division to volunteer relevant information.”
.
