A 42-year-old man, who specialises in defrauding electronics companies through e-banking system is now in a big trouble.
The unwholesome activities of the suspect, Abdullahi Rauf, was brought to an abrupt end, shortly after he defrauded an electronic company of items worth N3 million two weeks ago.
Rauf, who until his arrest resided along Aiyetoro Road, Olomore, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He was apprehended on Monday, January 19, 2015 by detectives attached to Obantoko Divisional Police Station, Abeokuta, of Ogun State command.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrest of the 42-year-old man, whom he described as fond of defrauding companies.
He ran into trouble when the owner of the electronics company (name withheld) located in Abeokuta discovered that his bank account which he operates with one of the new generation banks was not credited with the amount the suspect claimed he had deposited into, contrary to a bank credit alert he had earlier in the day received prior to its confirmation.
Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said that the victim raised the alarm and reported to the police operatives attached to Obantoko Division who swiftly swung into action and then, placed the suspect under surveillance before he was eventually apprehended on Monday, January 19, 2015.
The suspect confessed that he signs cheques and pays them in on Fridays, having prior knowledge that banks with which the cheques were dropped would definitely alert the owners of the accounts holders of payment of such amount even when the cheques had not been cleared. He added that he (suspect) knows that he has no kobo in his account. By the time the cheques get to the clearing house, it would bounce and the company (or other affected individuals) would not be able to get the expected money. In other words, the bank alerts would deceive targeted companies which would prod them to release goods to the suspect with the hope that the suspect has paid into the company’s account.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime and he is helping the police in its investigation. Almost, all of the stolen or fraudulently acquired items have been recovered by the police”, said the Police spokesman.
However, Adejobi assured that the suspect would soon appear in court, immediately judicial workers call off their industrial strike action.
Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, recently promoted to an Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police and who is supervising the Ogun State Police Command for now, has directed that a thorough probe be carried out into the matter.