TheCable

The Katsina police command has arrested one Hajarat Egbunu, identified as an ex-immigration officer, for allegedly defrauding job seekers of N47 million.

Gambo Isah, Katsina police spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday, said Egbunu was dismissed by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

According to Gambo, the 42-year-old woman allegedly collected money from some job seekers in the state with the promise to get them employment at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) headquarters in Abuja.

Two other suspects were also arrested in connection with the incident.

“On 04/10/2021 at about 1520hrs, based on credible intelligence, the Command succeeded in arresting one Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki, ‘M’, aged 45yrs of Rafin Dadi Quarters, now residing at Gwarinpa Quarters, Abuja who conspired with one Hajarat Iyeh Egbunu, ‘F’, aged 42yrs of Kubwa, Abuja, an indigene of Kogi state, a dismissed Nigerian Immigration Service officer, a notorious fraudster who has been on the wanted list of security agencies for various offences relating to fraud,” the statement reads.

“The fact of the case was that on 15/10/2020, the suspect, Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki, approached one Aminu Hamza, ‘M’, aged 32yrs of GRA, Katsina state, with a proposal for a job vacancy at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) headquarters, Abuja, with a salary of more than N3,000,000.

“He also informed him that each offer is sold at N3,500,000. The said Aminu Hamza informed his friends of this lucrative offer. They picked interest and gathered the sum of N7 million, which they transferred to Ibrahim El-Maki’s account.

“Subsequently, the suspect, Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki, sent copies of the appointment letters to him through WhatsApp which were later traced to be fake.

“In the course of investigation, Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki was traced and arrested. He confessed to have collected the said money and gave it to one Hajarat Iyeh Egbunu, ‘F’, in good faith with intent of assisting his friends to get ECOWAS’ juicy appointments.

“El-Maki cooperated and assisted the police in their investigation, which led to the arrest of the principal suspect, Hajarat Iye Egbunu, who confessed to have received the sum of N34,800,000 from Ibrahim Lawal El-Maki through her bank accounts.

“But El-Maki stated that she collected the sum of N47,350,000 from him.

“It may interest you to know that other unsuspecting members of the public defrauded by the suspect through the same modus operandi by Hajarat Iye Egbunu are still trooping to the Command Headquarters to lodge their complaints.”

Gambo added that investigation into the incident is ongoing.