Culle From New Telegraph
A notorious fraudster, who is an inmate of Kuje Prison, Mr. Ifeanyi Ezenwa, has defrauded a store owner in Abuja of automatic wheelchairs and other goods said to worth several thousands of naira.
Ezenwa, described by police detectives as a super serial fraudster, is reputed to be a specialist in using fake bank alerts to defraud victims of millions of naira right from inside prison.
His latest crime, which was in July, came four months after Ezenwa threatened to sue four national newspapers of N4 billion for publishing how he had been carrying out his fraudulent activities and heading a fraud syndicate even while in prison.
Ezenwa coordinates his operations from Kuje Maximum Prison, Abuja.
At different times he had posed as a chief executive officer (CEO) of a company in the United Kingdom, as a king and chief as well as an American doctor.
A police source said: “The Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) operatives went to prison and confirmed that he is there. He used to pose as a chief and king on social media.”
The police also said that Ezenwa had masterminded many frauds, causing financial ruins for many businessmen and women. It was also learnt that Ezenwa had 17 different fraud cases pending in different courts before the latest crime.
A police source said: “Ezenwa collected 15 brand new cars from a popular company that sells cars. This particular company is among the biggest car dealers in Nigeria. He also collected five new cars from another dealer in Abuja. Once he collects such cars, he will send fake bank alerts.”
Ezenwa’s arrest was led by Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.
In this latest incident, Ezenwa would have got away with his crime, but he was caught on a Close Circuit Television (CCTV), which showed him posing as a rich man in the shop which sells wheelchairs.
Ezenwa left prison in company with prison warders to perpetrate the fraud. Police now believe that warders are part of Ezenwa’s fraud syndicate.
Another police source said: “The suspect and his members wanted to defraud the medical store of automatic wheelchairs. They took him for medical check-up at the National Hospital, and thereafter they took him to the store to buy some things he said he needed.
“He dressed as a rich guy; how he got the clothes is yet unknown. He dressed, looking rich and the warders followed him like bodyguards.”
It was learnt that operatives have gone to the medical store and took the owner’s statement.
The store owner said he had already reported the case to X-Squad.
The police source disclosed: “The store owner said that on the fateful day in question, Ezenwa walked into his store. The store owner said that it was the prison warders who carried his phone and money, while he posed as a chairman.
The complainant said that one of the prison warders held a gun and opened the door for him. After visiting the store, he now went back to the prison, called the management and sent a fake bank alert. He then sent Dalhatu Yahaya to go and pick the wheelchairs. Obviously, prison warders are really helping him. It was the complainant that gave police the CCTV footage. The complainant said that Ezenwa, aside from the automatic wheelchairs, collected other goods and later paid with fake bank alert.
“His boy, Yahaya, was later arrested. He took us to the supermarket. Preliminary investigation showed that Ezenwa was allowed to leave prison with those prison warders, because he claimed he wanted to go for medical attention at the National Hospital, but soon, he was at the supermarket, ordering different items and with the warders acting like his guards.”
It was also learnt that operatives of IRT recovered a brand new Toyota Hilux vehicle from the suspect. He used a fake bank alert to buy the car from Elisade Motors in Abuja while still in prison.
The police source added: “Yahaya was the person Ezenwa sent to collect the Hilux vehicle of N17 million from the car stand. He moved it to Kano and sold it for N9 million, where police recovered it. Yahaya confessed that his superior in the prison, aka Igwe, sent him to collect the motor from the car stand. Yahaya also said that he gave his boss the N9 million. The manager of Elisade Motors was suspended because of this car, and he had to meet us to solve the matter.”
Another police source alleged that prison warders working with Ezenwa are being paid by him.
“Some of the prison warders are working with him. Yahaya used to bring the goods and money, while the prison warders would collect and deliver for him. Police investigation has revealed that Ezenwa used to buy cows and slaughter them inside the prison every week. All persons close to him used to benefit from the good food, meat and other goodies. He lives in a self-contained room fully furnished inside Kuje Prison with AC, TV, fridge, exercise machines.”
When contacted, the Prison Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Francis Enobore, confirmed the story.
He said: “Yes, I know about it. It was Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) that brought the allegation. The warders who were alleged to have taken him to the shop are presently being investigated. If they are found guilty, they would face disciplinary action.
“The prisons authority is not taking the matter with levity at all. Already, they have been issued queries. They have to answer the queries. After our investigations, a statement will be issued to reveal our findings.”
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