Metro

EFCC arrests Ekiti hotelier over alleged $5m fraud

Published

9 years ago

August 13, 2015

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested a suspected fraudster, Idowu Olarenwaju, alias Capt Anthony Abel Saramoh for allegedly defrauding an American Citizen of $4million through his company, Total Intership Nigeria Limited.
According to a statement by EFCC, Olanrewaju tricked his victim into paying the said amount into his company’s account with the promise of supplying him with crude oil from Nigeria.
A statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said: “The heist was earned through a phony crude oil contracts with the victim, wiring the said amount into the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited ostensibly for the supply of crude oil.

“The bubble burst after the victim was left clutching the air, in an exasperating wait that ended with a petition to the EFCC.
“One Joe Onwudimowei, an accomplice who operates the account of Total Intership Nigeria Limited with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) where the proceeds of the said fake contract was deposited, was arrested on 18th June, 2015 and upon interrogation, fingered Idowu Olanrewaju and one Otunba Yemi Osho as the people he handed over all monies that passed through the account.

“On the 19th of June, 2015, the duo of Idowu Olanrewaju and Yemi Osho were arrested following a dawn raid on their homes by operatives of the EFCC.”
The statement said the suspect, who has no reasonable source of income, was speechless when confronted with facts.
The statement added: “According to Onwudimowei, Olanrewaju sometime in 2010, instructed him to withdraw the sum of Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N3, 500, 000.00) for Chief Yemi Osho. Osho, he claimed, in turn handed over the money to two people sent to him by Olarenwaju.
“This singular involvement of Osho was what made Olanrewaju confess to the fraud as he had initially denied knowing Onwudimowei. When Olanrewaju was confronted with the testimony of Osho, sources at the EFCC disclosed that he was speechless and began to plead for mercy.
“Olanrewaju who does not have any reasonable source of income was discovered to have several properties in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a 44 rooms hotel in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. Also recovered from were a number of exotic cars including, a 2014 Range Rover, 2013 Honda Crosstour, 2013 Range Evogue and Honda CRV.
Uwujaren said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now