Police nab Lebanese woman, others for using EFCC apparel for robbery

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a 32-year-old Lebanese, Amira Abdallahi, alongside five others for allegedly being involved in robberies and fraudulent practices in Lagos and Abuja which amounted to N20 million.
The suspects identified as; Princewill Eze, 55; Daniel Okpara, 30; Paul Irior, 37; Bassey Ekpenyong, 39; Royal Nwabuike, 32; and the 32-year-old Lebanese committed some of their criminal act wearing branded vests of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
It was gathered that the suspects disguised themselves as officials of the anti-graft agency defrauded some Bureau de Change outlets in Lagos.

Luck however ran out of the gang on February 27 in VGC area of Lagos, when the leader of the syndicate was nabbed by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
It was learnt that the information gotten from Eze led to the arrest of other member of the gang including the Lebanese woman.
The police recovered the following items from the gang; six Toyota vehicles, one single-barreled pistol with four cartridges, Bryco pistol with six rounds of 5.56mm ammunition,N4m and $13, 000.
While confessing to her crime on Wednesday, Abdallahi, who is of a Lebanese decent and mother from Ishan in Edo State affirmed that she has been a part of the gang since 2014, and all this while she had done six deals amounting to N10 million.

Abdallahi affirmed, “I was born in Nigeria and I grew up in Lagos. I stay in Lekki area with my family. I am married with five daughters. The first money I got from the deals was $5,000. I could not stop because the money was tempting.

“I was formerly doing interior decorations work. That was how I met Eze, who is nicknamed Senator. I did some interior design jobs for him in a hotel he owned. That was around March 2014.
“I had done about six deals with the gang. My role is just to talk on phone with our would-be victims. They think I am a foreigner, and they are willing to trust us. I have made about N10 million so far, but all the accounts have been drained now. I handed everything over to the police.”
Eze, an indigene of Nkanu in Enugu State, on his part said, “Before we rob our victims, we usually tell them that we want to purchase dollars, but we know most of them do not have an operating licence. So, we will pretend to be officials of the EFCC, and we will harass them for not having a licence. Later, we will ask them to pay a fine.
“They will bring the money to us in convenient places like hotels and banks. I was formerly a businessman. I also run a hotel. It is about five years now that we started this project. I was arrested by the police four years ago for a similar issue, but I was granted bail by the court.
“The police walkie-talkie and other gadgets recovered from me were obtained during the Anambra elections. I was not into politics, but I was part of that election.”
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, while commenting said the command will ensure that the State is a no go area for criminals, he further noted that other members of the gang will be rounded up soon.
“We have recovered several items which the suspects procured with the proceeds of their robbery escapades. Eze, the ring leader, built a hotel in Edo, while other members also have houses in Delta, Ogun and Lagos states.
“Serious efforts are on to arrest the only gang member at large.

 

“The command assures residents of Lagos that it always has arrangements to ensure safety of lives and property,” Aderanti affirmed.