EFCC parades three ‘fake’ operatives caught ‘extorting’ Lagos resident

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has paraded three persons — including a police inspector — for allegedly impersonating its operatives.

TheCable had reported how residents of New Horizon Estate in Lagos had nabbed two “fake” officials, while another person, identified as a police officer, escaped.

The three men were said to have stormed the estate with fake EFCC identity cards and what appeared to be a court document ordering forfeiture of a property.

A resident of the estate, Samuel Otigba, had narrated the incident in a Twitter post on Wednesday, and said the men were handed over to EFCC.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, the anti-graft agency identified members of the three-man gang as Pascal Ugwu Chijoke, Sodiq Ibrahim Adekunle, and Edwin Bassey — a police inspector.

The agency warned Nigerians to be cautious of impostors who use the identity of the commission to extort unsuspecting members of the public.

“The fraudsters were arrested at New Horizon Estate, Lekki, Lagos, in the middle of their illegal operation to ‘serve’ a Court Order purported to have emanated from the Mushin Magistrate Court, on an unsuspecting victim,” Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman, said in a statement.

“The three-man gang of Pascal Ugwu Chijoke, Sodiq Ibrahim Adekunle and Edwin Bassey, a Police Inspector, posing as EFCC operatives allegedly stormed the residence of their target with all the paraphernalia of typical EFCC raid, wearing fake EFCC branded jackets and identity cards.

“Ahmed warned Nigerians to be wary of impostors, using the good name of the Commission to extort unsuspecting targets. He urged citizens to be vigilant and report suspicious activities to the Commission.”

Below are photos.