N350.900m fraud: Firm alleges Police conspiracy to scuttle prosecution of suspect
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A financial consultancy firm, Rosiyke Financial Consult Ltd, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over an alleged conspiracy to scuttle a pending criminal case involving a suspect over N350,900.00 million fraud.
The petition, dated May 15, 2025, was signed and submitted by the firm’s legal counsel, Ernest Annie Nwoye
The criminal case with Charge No: ID/24069C/2024, is currently pending before a Lagos court.
In the petition, Rosiyke is urging the IGP to investigate the roles of two police officers involving a Superintendent of Police (SP) R.N. Maiguru Esq. and Inspector A.I. Aminu Esq. whom it accuses of attempting to compromise the case.
According to the petitioner, the case stems from a July 2022 transaction in which Ms. Rukkaya Saadina Dantata allegedly collected N350.9 million under false pretence from Rosiyke through transfer purporting to remit $580,000 to its suppliers in China.
While she reportedly admitted receiving the said funds during interrogation by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), the telex confirmations she provided were later found to be fake.
Despite the severity of the allegations, Ms. Dantata was granted bail and not detained, which was alleged to be due to high-level interference and influence. A proposed repayment plan soon collapsed after she became unreachable, and both she and her guarantor were declared missing.
According to the petition, the FCID under former Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Sylvester Alabi made efforts to trace Ms. Dantata, including placing her on an Interpol red notice and an immigration watchlist.
It stated that early in 2024, a N100 million settlement was reportedly brokered by a retired Commissioner of Police now serving as a company Chief Security Officer but the settlement was never honoured, and Ms. Dantata remained at large.
In recent development, the petitioner alleged that members of Ms. Dantata’s family had made a fresh settlement offer in March 2025, which also failed to materialize.
Shortly after, SP Maiguru and Inspector Aminu — neither of whom was assigned to the case — allegedly filed a notice of discontinuance of the case dated March 28, 2025, in court without the knowledge or consent of the FCID’s prosecuting counsel.
Therefore, Rosiyke Financial Consult has expressed concern that this act by the two police officers may have been influenced by ethnic bias.
The petitioner claims that Ms. Dantata had boasted that she would never be jailed as long as the current DIG in charge of the FCID—reportedly from her home state of Kano remains in office.
“Our client believes this act amounts to professional misconduct and obstruction of justice,” the petition stated.
Consequently, the petitioner has urged the IGP to investigate the conduct of SP Maiguru and Inspector Aminu, and to ensure that the case proceeds to full prosecution.
They emphasized that a criminal charge cannot be withdrawn without the consent of the court or the Attorney-General of the Federation, warning that any attempt to circumvent due process, undermines public confidence and damages the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force.
They also called on the IGP to ensure “justice is served, restitution made, and anyone involved in obstructing the case held accountable”.
