Police Arrests Lebanese Woman And Others Using EFCC Vests For Robbery

A gang of five have been arrested by the police for alleged robberies and frauds totaling N20m in different parts of Lagos and Abuja.

Members the gang were identified as: Princewill Eze, 55; Daniel Okpara, 30; Paul Irior, 37; Bassey Ekpenyong, 39; Royal Nwabuike, 32; and the Lebanese ─ disguised as officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and wore the commission’s branded vests.

After the gang leader, was arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the state command on February 27 in the VGC, Ajah area of Lagos, it was learnt that they allegedly defrauded some Bureau de Change outlets in Lagos with the vests.

According to reports, Eze’s confessions led to the arrest of the Lebanese woman and other gang members.

Abdallahi, whose father is a Lebanese and mother from Ishan said:

“I was born in Nigeria and I grew up in Lagos. I stay in Lekki area with my family. I am married with five daughters. The first money I got from the deals was $5,000. I could not stop because the money was tempting....I was formerly doing interior decorations work. That was how I met Eze, who is
nicknamed Senator. I did some interior design jobs for him in a hotel he owned. That was around March 2014.

 “I had done about six deals with the gang. My role is just to talk on phone with our would-be victims. They think I am a foreigner, and they are willing to trust us. I have made about N10m so far, but all the accounts have been drained now. I handed everything over to the police.”

Eze, the gang leader, from Nkanu, Enugu State, said:

“Before we rob our victims, we usually tell them that we want to purchase dollars, but we know most of them do not have an operating licence. So, we will pretend to be officials of the EFCC, and we will harass them for not having a licence. Later, we will ask them to pay a fine....They will bring the money to us in convenient places like hotels and banks. I was formerly a businessman. I also run a hotel. It is about five years now that we started this project. I was arrested by the police four years ago for a similar issue, but I was granted bail by the court.

 “The police walkie-talkie and other gadgets recovered from me were obtained during the Anambra elections. I was not into politics, but I was part of that election.”

According to the state Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti:

“We have recovered several items which the suspects procured with the proceeds of their robbery escapades. Eze, the ring leader, built a hotel in Edo, while other members also have houses in Delta, Ogun and Lagos states....Serious efforts are on to arrest the only gang member at large."