The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended Igwe Gift Okechukwu, an individual who falsely presented himself as a medical doctor, on charges of criminal conspiracy, organ trafficking, fraud, cybercrime, stealing, impersonation, cheating, and identity theft.
It was learnt that the fake
doctor was arrested in Nasarawa State by operatives of the Force Criminal
Investigation Department, after defrauding a point of sale (POS) owner in
Owerri, Imo State.
The suspect was said to have
tricked the POS owner to enter a code on her POS machine which she did, and she
later noticed that all the money in her POS account was withdrawn, which
amounted to the sum of Twenty One Million Naira (N21,000,000) and all efforts
to reach out to the suspect proved abortive.
This was made known by the
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday in Abuja at the
parade of the suspect.
He said; "We are pleased to inform you that officers and men of the Force
Criminal Investigation Department have successfully apprehended an individual
suspected to be involved in a multifaceted criminal case.
"Today, we
present the case
of one Igwe Gift Okechukwu ‘mʼ involved in criminal conspiracy, organ
trafficking ,fraud, cybercrime, stealing, impersonation, deceit cheating and identity
theft that was reported at the Force Criminal Investigation Department by one
Anita Chinwe Mathias ‘fʼ.
"The
complainant stated that she is a POS operator with several POS branches in
Owerri and that on the fateful day she came in contact with the suspect, she
went to a shopping mall in Owerri to get some personal effects, where the
suspect introduced himself to her as Dr. Henry Ovie, a neurologist newly
transferred from Portharcourt to FMC, Owerri.
"She stated further that Igwe collected her number and established a close relationship with her. He told her that he was expecting some money and that he would love to make use of her POS to collect the money. The suspect then sent the amount of Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N5,500,000) to her account, which made her believe that the suspect has a genuine source of income.
"She
proceeded to state that on 11th September, 2023 the suspect tricked her to
enter a code on her POS machine which she did due to the trust she had for him.
After the suspect left her place, she noticed that all the money in her POS
account was withdrawn, which amounted to the sum of Twenty One Million Naira
(N21,000,000) and all efforts to reach out to the suspect proved abortive.
"She
also went to the Federal Medical Centre, where the suspect claimed to be
working, to ask about him and she was told that none of their doctors bears
such a name. Immediately, she reported the case to the Force Criminal
Investigation Department Abuja, where intelligent officers swung into action to
arrest the suspect.
"During
the course of investigation the officers discovered that the suspect had
changed his phone number, relocated from Owerri to Lafia in Nasarawa State,
where he rented and furnished an apartment, where he was later arrested after
being tracked.
"Further
investigations revealed that the suspect goes by different names such as Igwe
Richard, Ovie Henry with multiple phone numbers and emails that he uses to
perpetrate his heinous acts. Investigation also unraveled that the suspectʼs
identity was not documented on the National Identity Management Commission
portal, neither was his information in any Nigeria Information Database.
"Upon
his arrest it was discovered that the said Igwe was also involved in organ
trafficking and that he has a contact in Toronto, Canada with whom he engages
in the trade of human organs.
"The
Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has reiterated that the arrest
underscores the commitment and dedication of the force to combating crimes and
criminality and also ensuring the safety and security of our community. The IGP
has assured Nigerians that an extensive investigation is ongoing and every
other perpetrator involved in this heinous act would be brought to book and be
charged to court accordingly," the statement added.
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