It was practically the end for a three-man gang of conmen, specialising in stripping unsuspecting members of the society in parts of the South East of their wares through the use of fake currencies.
Among them is one Sunday Aka, who, by claiming to be a Naval officer, is currently cooling his heels at the police facility in Enugu with his accomplices.
Parading the “officer,” a native of Ezeagu in Isielu Local Government of Ebonyi State but residing at Mmakwum Obosi in Idemili North Council of Anambra State, spokesman of the Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, told our Correspondent that the team of fraudsters, specialised in operating within the precincts of Onitsha and Enugu, using fake currencies.
Said to be a panel beater and married with four children, Oka, alongside the two other members of his gang, who were earlier nabbed by the police allegedly used fake currencies to purchase items from members of the public
Police sources said that Oka had last week dressed in Nigeria Naval Tee –Shirt and fez cap and stormed the new Haven Police station, Enugu for the purpose of securing bail for two members of his gang, Abea Johnson and Henry Nwankwo, who had earlier been arrested for being in possession of fake currency notes.
It was gathered that Johnson and Nwankwo had gone to a Super market at Nanka Street, New Haven last month to buy some items with the fake currency notes, but rather met their waterloo, as the fake notes were discovered.
The development was said to have attracted security operatives after the owner of the shop raised the alarm that he had been swindled leading to their arrest.
Amaraizu said Oka had on learning the development, prepared and stormed the New Haven police station in naval attire where he introduced himself as a “naval officer” who came to bail his colleagues.
“The policemen on duty had suspected him to be an impostor and demanded his identities which he produced but it discovered to be fake. He was therefore arrested and when he was searched, he was discovered to be in possession of 45 pieces of fake currency notes of N1000 denomination,” Amaraizu said.
He stated that earlier on, Oka had gone to the wife of Nwankwo and extorted the sum of N35,000 from her on the guise that he was going to Enugu to facilitate the release of her husband, adding that he had also quarreled with the woman for allegedly giving him food without meat.
“All the suspects are helping the police operatives in their investigations and are pleading for forgiveness. Sunday Oka who revealed that he is a panel beater and married with four kids attributed the situation he is facing to act of devil and maintained that he wore the Naval Tee shirt and fez cap to deceive and make the operatives succumb to his request and further revealed that he has not been in any of the forces let alone the Navy,” he added.
The Police spokesperson said that the suspects would be made to face the law after thorough investigation.
