April 25, (THEWILL) –Â The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested one Fidelis Poor, a member of a syndicate who allegedly connived to defraud a first Class Traditional Ruler in Kwara State.
Fidelis, 30, who hails from Stwue, in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, alongside other suspects (still at large), allegedly conspired to defraud His Royal Highness, Idris Sero Abubakar, a total sum of N33,399,999.00 (Thirty-Three Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Nine Naira).
They had swindled the monarch on the guise that he had a container of goods meant to be used for the development of Okuta community, due to be cleared at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Idris Abubakar, who is the Emir of Okuta, in Baruten Local Government Area of the State, was a former member of the House of Representatives.
A statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, partly reads: “In a petition dated November 30, 2021, the Emir alleged that a group of fraudsters who operate as a 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.
âThe monarch stated that the syndicate provided different accounts for him to pay âthe money for the clearance of the goodsâ, one of which included that of Fidelis Poor.
“According to him, the fraudsters thereafter asked him to call one âEvangelist Rose Mary Oni (JP)â for handing over the container.
âHe further stated that efforts to get the goods delivered or recoup his money had been unsuccessful, hence he petitioned the EFCC.
âThe Commission upon the receipt of the petition commenced a discrete investigation into the matter, which led to his (Fidelis) arrest.
âThe suspect will be arraigned upon the conclusion of an investigation, while efforts are ongoing to get other members of the syndicate arrested.â
