Two Fleeing Clearing Agents Who Allegedly Defrauded Customer N18.5m Arrested

PAUL IYOGHOJIE

Operatives of the Police Special Weapons and Tactical, SWAT, of the Nigeria Police at Adeniji Adele, Lagos have arrested and charged to Court the two fleeing clearing agents operating at the Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos who allegedly collected the sum of N18,500,000 from a customer, Ezeakor Anthony Osita by false pretence.

Police alleged that the defendants, Nwafor George Uche, 52, and Akaso Danmasani, 63, collected the money from the complainant with the pretext of using the money to help him purchase three 2001, 2004 and 2005 model Toyota cars through Nigeria Customs actioning, but that the defendants failed to purchase the cars or refund the money to him and instead converted the money to their use, switched off their phones and fled.

Police further alleged that when the complainant waited for days without seeing the defendants and their phones were no longer going through, he sensed foul play and quickly petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG incharge of Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos who referred the matter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP incharge of SWAT Operations at Adeniji Adele Road, Lagos Island for detailed investigation.

Following the referral, DCP SWAT gave a marching order to his crack team to fish out the fleeing suspects anywhere they might be hiding and the police team arrested them at their hideout in Lagos through intelligence gathering and tracking.

After investigation by ASP Rotimi Ottah and his team, the defendants were charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a three-count bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, fraudulent conversion and threat to life.

Police prosecuting Counsel, DSP Ben Ekundayo told the Court in the charge marked TA/51/2015 that the defendants committed the offence in September, 2024 at Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos.

Ekundayo informed the Court that the defendants introduced themselves to the complainant that they were clearing agents and Customs agents and were in a position to purchase three 2001, 2004 and 2005 models Toyota cars for N18,500,000 through Customs actioning for him and the complainant believed them and gave them the N18,500,000 through bank transfer to help him purchase the three Toyota cars.

Ekundayo further said that the defendants failed to provide the cars or refund the money back to the complainant when they could not fulfil their promise and that when the complainant waited for days without hearing from the defendants, he called them to know what was delaying the transactions, but the defendants told the complainant to stop calling them about the money or cars and that they will eliminate him if he continue to disturb them about the money and the cars which led to the arrest of the defendants.

He said the offences, the defendants committed were punishable under sections 411,314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chief Magistrate O.O Olatunji granted them N5m bail each with two surties each in like sum.