By Adeboye Ado, AKURE
Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Ondo state Command, has arrested two suspects who confessed to buying and selling bank accounts owned by unsuspecting members of the public.
The suspects identified as Maxwell Laloju and Adejumo David, were apprehended by the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Command for fraudulently obtaining customers’ bank details for criminal use.
The spokesperson of the command, DSC Daniel Aidamenbor, disclosed the arrest of the suspects in a statement on Tuesday in Akure, the state capital.
Aidamenbor said Investigation into the incident began when one Mr. Oluwole, a car dealer alleged that the sum of One Million, Five Hundred Thousand naira paid into his United Bank of Africa (UBA) account was stolen by cyber criminals overnight.
“A forensic analysis of the UBA statement of account of Mr Oluwole revealed a certain Palmpay account EL-SAEED YUSUF 9133771898 received a sum of N200,000 from the N1,500,000 stolen from the account of Mr Oluwole and the balance sum used for online purchases.
“Zenith bank account, SAMPSON ONYENEBE received the entire ₦200,000 from the Palmpay account of EL-SAEED YUSUF while another account, JOHN YOBG DADD 7025128574 at FIRSTMONIE equally received other sum from EL-SAEED YUSUF Palmpay account”
“Sampson Onyenebe who was arrested in Owerri, Imo state claimed that he met Maxwell Lakoju aka Ifa Dollar on Facebook in 2022 and they discussed and agreed on how Maxwell would assist him with metaphysical power for wealth”
“Among other requirements for the process, Sampson Onyenebe paid several thousands of naira through an account belonging to David Adejumo and he also handed over Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards , Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) of about Eight (8) bank accounts belonging to himself and his wife to Maxwell”
“The arrest of David Adejumo led to the arrest of Maxwell Lakoju in Auchi, Edo State. Both suspects confessed to obtaining the bank accounts and its details including the ATM cards by courier from Sampson and his wife”
“Both suspects also confessed to have equally obtained and procured details of other bank accounts from other individuals and sold same to persons whom they claimed usually place regular demands for such”
However, the spokesperson said Investigation is still on going to determine the involvement of bank officials and Information Technology professionals in the crime.
