Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, the Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This disclosure was made in a statement released by EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.
According to Uwujaren, Atumeyi who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly was arrested with N326million and $140,500 cash.
He was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2022 alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja.
Following their arrests, a former bank employee, Abdulmalik Salau Femi, who allegedly supplied the inside information that facilitated the attack on the bank by the syndicate, was nabbed at a Hotel in Lagos on Tuesday, November 1.
“Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu where a total of $470,000 USD was recovered,” the EFCC spokesman stated.
“The arrest of the suspects followed months of investigation into the hacking of one of the commercial banks by a syndicate of fraudsters who pulled off a heist of N1.4billion,”
The syndicate allegedly moved N887million into the account of Fav Oil and Gas Limited, from where the monies were paid to several Bureau de Change operators and some auto dealers for exchange into United States Dollars and purchase of high-end cars.
Dominic, who has severally been arrested for fraud, allegedly helped Atumeyi perfect the hacking plan through Abdumalik.
Dominic, a self-styled investment expert and managing director of Brisk Capital Limited was arrested in May 2021 by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police for an alleged N2billion investment scam. He allegedly defrauded over 500 persons in a phony investment scheme.
Uwujaren disclosed that two Range Rover Luxury SUVs were also recovered from the two suspects arrested in Abuja. He said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
