The Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) Annex, said it arrested a “serial fraudster” who allegedly scammed about ₦2 billion from some citizens in Lagos.

The FCID Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mayegun Aminat, disclosed this in a statement, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the suspect, Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka, allegedly scammed ₦320,000,000 from one Tochukwu Unachukwu. She added that the command also received petitions from one Moses Chizoba Enechukwu who claimed Chinedu allegedly scammed him of ₦1 billion. Another petition against Chinedu was from Chinedu Nwaforcha who also claimed the suspect scammed him of ₦840,000,000.

ASP Mayegun explained that the command recovered a 2024 Toyota Hilux with a Presidency plate number from the suspect. Also recovered was an identity card belonging to the Ministry of Labour from the suspect. She added that a claim by the suspect that he was a licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator was false.

It read: “On the 9th of September 2024, the Nigerian Police Force received a petition addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, FCID Annex, Lagos, from Chinedu Laz and Partners (Deo Gratia Chambers) on behalf of Mr. Tochukwu Unachukwu, the Managing Director of Casco Electronics Company Limited, against Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka and his wife, Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka, of being involved in a fraudulent scheme amounting to ₦320,000,000.00.

“Upon receipt of the petition, detectives from the Special Investigations Team of the Anti-Fraud Section attached to Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos, swiftly swung into intelligence led investigation. The team reviewed relevant banking records and secured a Warrant of Arrest, which led to the apprehension of Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka, a self-acclaimed Licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operator.

“Further investigation revealed that between March and May, 2024, Mr. Unachukwu made payments totaling ₦320,000,000.00 to Ngwaka and his wife through their company accounts, Edunaco Multiple Resources Limited and Bright Janes World for the procurement of $200,000 USD to facilitate the supply of goods from China. However, additional intelligence uncovered fraudulent documents, including a telex confirmation from Zenith Bank, which purportedly shows the completion of the transactions in two $100,000 USD tranches. The Chinese suppliers confirmed that no such funds were received.