The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kwara state command, has arrested a 30-year-old man who allegedly defrauded Idris Abubakar, the Emir of Okuta in Kwara state, of N33,399,999.
In a statement released by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC said the suspect, identified as Fidelis Poor, convinced the traditional ruler that he had a container of goods that will help in the development of the community.
According to EFCC, the suspect told the emir, a former member of representatives, that the container was awaiting clearance in Abuja, and asked the traditional ruler to pay some money to secure the release of the container.
“The Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC has arrested one Fidelis Poor, a member of a syndicate who allegedly connived to defraud a first class traditional ruler in Kwara State, His Royal Highness, Idris Sero Abubakar, to the tune of N33,399,999.
Poor, 30, who hails from Stwue in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, alongside other suspects (still at large) allegedly conspired to swindle the monarch on the guise that he had a container of goods meant to be used for the development of Okuta Community due be cleared at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.
In a petition dated November 30, 2021, HRH Abubakar, who is the Emir of Okuta in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State and a former member of the House of Representatives, alleged that a group of fraudsters who operate as syndicate called him on phone sometime last year that he had a container to clear in Abuja and requested for the said amount for clearance.”
The caller requested for the said amount of money to clear the container at the airport. He provided different accounts for the Emir to pay the money into, one of which included that of Fidelis Poor.”
Uwajuren added that the monarch was later asked to contact one “Evangelist Rosemary” for handing over of the container, but all efforts made by the traditional ruler to get the goods or get his money back were ineffective. He said the commission was alerted and an investigation commenced which led to the suspect’s arrest.
He added that the suspect would be arraigned at the end of the investigation, adding that efforts are ongoing to arrest other members of the syndicate.
