The Enugu State Police Command recently apprehended three suspects, including a former bank employee, for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme that defrauded a customer of N4 million through identity theft.
The suspects, identified as Ndulaka Okwudili, Ifeanyi Nnamani (a former employee of the bank), and Philip Ozogwu, a National Identification Number (NIN) enrolment agent, were arrested on October 18, 2024. According to the police, the suspects used the identity of Mba Ndukwe, an Australian-based Nigerian, to execute the fraud.
In a statement released by the police, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the spokesperson for the command, revealed that Okwudili had discovered a bag containing personal items and SIM cards at Nowas Junction in Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, in October 2023. Among the items was an Airtel SIM card, which Okwudili used in January 2024. After inserting the SIM card into his phone, he received a credit alert, which led him to team up with others involved in the scam.
By September 2024, when Okwudili faced difficulties accessing the victim’s account, he visited the bank where the account was held. There, he met Nnamani, who had worked at the bank for 17 years. Nnamani informed him that the account had been flagged with a “Post No Debit” status and advised Okwudili to obtain a court affidavit and alter his NIN details to match the account holder’s.
Okwudili then turned to Ozogwu, who unlawfully modified his NIN details, including his name and date of birth, to mirror those of the victim, for a fee of N40,000. Using the altered NIN, Nnamani reactivated the victim’s bank account, bypassing necessary verification checks such as the Bank Verification Number (BVN).
With the account reactivated, Okwudili made a withdrawal of N100,000, giving Nnamani N50,000 as a “reward” for his role. As Okwudili continued withdrawing funds, a total of N1.5 million was taken, triggering an alert at the bank’s Ohafia branch in Abia State, where the account was originally opened. This led to the discovery of the fraud and a report to the police.
The police arrested Okwudili and Nnamani during an attempted transaction on October 18, and later apprehended Ozogwu. The suspects were charged with conspiracy, identity theft, forgery, and fraud before the Enugu North Magistrate Court. Okwudili and Nnamani were remanded at the Enugu Maximum Custodial Centre, while Ozogwu was granted bail pending further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Kanayo Uzuegbu, commended the bank’s efforts in uncovering the fraudulent activities and emphasized the importance of safeguarding personal information to prevent similar crimes.
