Kogi Politician Arrested With N326M, $610,500 Cash After N1.4BN Fraud

Category: Crime News

A Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi has been arrested with N326million and $ 140,500 cash believed to be part of N1.4 billion stolen from one of the commercial banks by a syndicate of fraudsters.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Atumeyi who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi House of Assembly was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2022.

He was arrested alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency also said arrested in connection with the Fraud is Abdumalik Salau Femi, a former bank employee, who allegedly supplied the inside information that facilitated the theft of the money from the the bank by the syndicate.

Femi was picked up today, November 1, 2022 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos. Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu where a total of $470,000 USD was recovered.

EFCC said the arrest of the suspects followed months of investigation into the hacking of the commercial banks by the syndicate of fraudsters.

The syndicate, EFCC said moved N887 million into the account of Fav Oil and Gas limited, from where the monies were paid to several Bureau de Change operators and some auto dealers for exchange into United States Dollars and purchase of high-end cars.

Dominic, who has severally been arrested for fraud, allegedly helped Atumeyi perfect the hacking plan through Abdumalik.

Two Range Rover Luxury SUVs were also recovered from the two suspects arrested in Abuja.