ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 63-year-old Ernesto Chukwukamma for allegedly impersonating a journalist affiliated with the Commission in a bid to extort N2 million and obstruct a high-profile corruption investigation.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Chukwukamma posed as a journalist connected to a fictitious Correspondents Chapel operating within the EFCC. He approached a petitioner involved in an ongoing probe and demanded N2 million to suppress a report allegedly linking the petitioner to the embezzlement of $4.5 billion during the winding down of the now-defunct Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
“The suspect threatened the petitioner and claimed that a damaging report implicating him in the PTF fraud was about to be published. He offered to ‘kill’ the story and influence the outcome of the investigation in exchange for a bribe,” Oyewale stated.
Chukwukamma was caught red-handed while attempting to withdraw the N2 million he had already collected, following credible intelligence and a swift operational response by EFCC agents.
He now faces multiple charges, including extortion, impersonation, and obtaining money under false pretence, and will be arraigned in court once investigations are concluded.
The EFCC has warned the public against falling victim to impostors claiming to represent the Commission and emphasized that impersonation is a serious criminal offence punishable under Nigerian law.
The agency urged citizens to report any suspicious individuals attempting to exploit EFCC’s name for personal gain.
