EFCC arrests ‘pilot’ for N1bn fraud in Kaduna
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna State Zonal Command, have arrested one Nuhu Haruna for an alleged fraudulent transaction to the tune of N1bn.
The anti-graft agency, in a tweet on Wednesday via its X handle, stated that Haruna’s arrest followed a petition by an unnamed person in December 2023, who “was introduced to the suspect for the purpose of a foreign exchange transaction involving N1,020,000.00,”
The EFCC noted that the petitioner “allegedly” paid the said amount into Haruna’s account for its dollar equivalent.
However, the petitioner “explained that the suspect furnished him with evidence of payments made which turned out to be false as he never received the dollar equivalent.”
The statement added that”preliminary investigation showed that Haruna, who claimed to be an airline captain, allegedly diverted the money for his personal use by buying property and vehicles which he intended to use for the start-up of his alleged airline company, Air Unity Aviation Services.
“A landed property purchased at N155,000 and another purchased at N350,000, three 18-seater Toyota Hiace buses imprinted with the logo of Air Unity Aviation Services and four exotic cars were traced to the suspect.”
He would be charged to court after investigations, the EFCC stated.
However, the immediate-past governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, has spent a second night in the custody of the EFCC, which is grilling him over alleged N10bn misappropriation.
Ahmed reported on Monday morning at the Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC and was not allowed to return home.
Inquiries by The PUNCH on Tuesday indicated that the anti-graft agency did not release him on Tuesday.
The anti-graft agency also arrested six persons in Lago State over alleged involvement in currency racketeering and the sale of new naira notes for commercial purposes, according to its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
