The Police Command in Abuja has detained four suspects accused of impersonating aides of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to defraud a retired military officer of over N150 million in a fake land deal.
The Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to Olayinka, one of the suspects, residing at Martin Elegoma Street in the Nigeria Army Post Housing Estate, Kurudu, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly orchestrating the scam.
He said the suspect deceived victims, including retired Major-General A. K. Ibrahim, into believing he had direct links to the FCT Minister and officials in the land administration department.
“The suspect fraudulently collected over N150 million under the pretext of securing land documents for Plot 1985, Guzape II Cadastral Zone, measuring about three hectares, as well as other plots,” Olayinka stated.
He added that investigations revealed the suspect was not acting alone.
“During interrogation, the suspect mentioned two staff of the Urban and Regional Planning Department of the FCT Administration as accomplices, and also identified another collaborator based in Durumi 2, Abuja,” he said.
Olayinka confirmed that all four suspects are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
“The four suspects are currently under investigation,” he added.
