A 62-year-old man, Babatunde Idris, who allegedly paraded himself as a retired Colonel in the Nigerian Army, has been arrested by the men of Oyo State police command over allegation of N40 million fraud, and for purportedly obtaining various sums of money from innocent victims.
The suspect was said to have promised one businessman, Yinusa Mustapha, that he would help him get a certificate for oil importation since 2012, but failed to do so. Mustapha reportedly paid N40 million into his Idris’ account for the purpose. The suspect was arrested by the police following a petition on his alleged fraudulent activities.
The fake Colonel was one of 37 suspects paraded by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Leye Oyebade, at the state police headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, yesterday, on allegations of robbery, stealing, impersonation, vandalism, arson, malicious damage, and burglary.
Apart from the N40 million fraud, Idris was also accused of forging various letterheads of the Nigerian Army, which he was said to have issued to unsuspecting individuals and corporate organisations, soliciting for various forms of assistance.
“It was discovered that the suspect had multiple identities. Among the fake names he bore while his illicit act lasted were “Soji Fajemirokun, Afolabi Idris, Idris Babatunde and Col T.I. Idris.”
Answering reporters’ questions, the suspect admitted that he was not an officer of the Nigerian Army, adding that he only posed as a Colonel to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. He said the devil lured him into the alleged crime and that he forged the letterheads of the Nigerian Army. But he said he only collected N16 million in various instalments from Mustapha and not N40 million.
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