Man arrested for swindling another of N300m with promise of federal appointment
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Police in Kwara State have apprehended a man who allegedly swindled another man of about N300million after making a false claim that he could facilitate a federal government’s appointment for the victim.
The alleged act was said to have been perpetrated in Ilorin, the state capital, in 2023 when the suspect Adeola Badru approached the victim, Joseph Olugbenga, and sold the idea of the appointment to the victim and got him convinced that he could facilitate it for him.
The state police commissioner, Adekimi Ojo, who briefed newsmen about the development said Badru held himself out to Olugbenga to be an influential politician who is well connected to the extent of facilitating a federal appointment for the victim.
Ojo said the unsupecting Olugbenga got swayed by the false claims of Badru and started to pay in installments the sum of N300m which the suspect demanded to secure for the victim an appointment as a member of the South West Development Commission.
He said the victim reported the matter to the police after the suspect disconnected contacts with him and blocked him from reaching him.
Ojo stated: “The complainant (Olugbenga) reported that sometime in February 2023, the suspect, Mr. Adeola Badru, approached and introduced himself to him. The suspect claimed to be a seasoned politician and a very influential personality with direct access to many top politicians in Nigeria, and further assured that he could assist the complainant to secure any federal government political appointment of his choice.
“Based on trust, the complainant released, in tranches, the sum of ThreeHundred Million Naira (#300,000,000.00) to the suspect, believing his promise to facilitate the appointment as a member into the South West Development Commission.
“Subsequently, the suspect blocked all communication channels, preventing the complainant from reaching him.
“Upon receipt of the petition, operatives of the Criminal Investigation Department swung into action and traced the suspect to his hideout in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he was arrested.
“During interrogation, the suspect voluntarily admitted to the crime. The Command is carrying out further investigation, and at the conclusion of our findings, the suspect will be duly charged to court.”
The police boss also disclosed the arrest of a man, Ekene Enemor, who allegedly orchestrated the killing of his wife, Esther Enemor, for a suspected ritual purpose.
He said the killing of the woman in her residence in Ilorin was discovered by her neighbours after one of them saw a man locking the door of the residence.
Ojo said the man, when accosted by the neigbour, introduced himself as a younger brother of the woman’s husband who was paying a visit to the house.
He said the neighbour who however noticed traces of blood in the vicinity raised an alarm that attracted other neighbours to the scene before they discovered the mutilated parts of the woman.
The police chief said in the course of investigation the woman’s husband who is resident at a community in Kaiama Local Government Area of the state, after being arrested, confessed to be the brain behind the killing of the woman.
He however said that the man later died after he was admitted in a hospital when he fell sick.
Ojo said that at the end of investigation all other culprits in the case would be charged to court.
