EFCC Arrests Controller of Kirikiri Prison over ‘$1M Scam’

Matilda Omonaiye/

Nigeria’s anti-graft agents have arrested the Controller of Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos, Mr Emmanuel Oluwaniyi, for allegedly allowing convicted fraudster, Hope Aroke, to receive treatment outside the prison where he is serving a 24-year jail term.

Also arrested was Hemeson Edwin, head of the medical centre at Kirikiri Prison, who allegedly gave exaggerated medical reports that warranted the referral for Aroke to be treated outside the facility.

Spokesman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wilson Uwujaren, says in a statement received by NewsmakersNG that the officials were arrested today.

“The suspects have given useful information to the Commission about their alleged involvement in the crime,” Uwujaren stated.

“Aroke, also known as H.Money, had masterminded a mega scam to the tune of over $1million scam. He committed the alleged crime from prison, using a network of accomplices.

“Aroke was one of the two Malaysia-based Nigerian undergraduate fraudsters arrested by the EFCC towards the end of 2012 at the 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, following a tip-off,” the statement further says.

The statement reads: “The first suspect, Oluwaniyi, who is the Controller, Kirikiri Maximum Prison, as well as the second suspect, Edwin, who is in charge of the medical facility, were arrested on Monday, November 25, 2019, by operatives of the Commission.

“The suspects have given useful information to the Commission about their alleged involvement in the crime.

“Aroke, also known as H.Money, had masterminded a mega scam to the tune of over $1m scam.

“He committed the alleged crime from prison, using a network of accomplices.

“Aroke was one of the two Malaysia-based Nigerian undergraduate fraudsters arrested by the EFCC towards the end of 2012 at the 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, following a tip-off. 

“Aroke, who hails from Okene in Kogi State, had claimed to be a student of Computer Science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia. 
However, investigations by the Commission revealed Aroke as the arrowhead of an intricate web of an internet fraud scheme that traverses two continents.

“When Aroke was arrested, a search conducted by EFCC operatives on his apartment led to the recovery of several items such as laptops, iPad, traveling documents, cheque books, flash drives, internet modem, and three exotic cars – a Mercedes Benz Jeep, One 4Matic Mercedes Benz Car and a Range Rover Sport SUV.

“He was eventually convicted by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on each of the two counts.”

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