By Robert AKPAN Senior Investigator Correspondent, Lagos/
FIVE persons have been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Lagos zone for alleged credit card fraud. Spokesperson for the Commission Wlison Uwujaren in a statement obtained by CrimeWorld magazine online said the arrest followed a petition from an unnamed new generation bank that the suspects stole a whopping $258,822.16 belonging to it. He gave names if the suspects as Messrs Daniel Staphen, Nestor Ezeani, Sunny Okwaraji, Sylvester Ituwa and Jeff Ogbonaya adding that they would soon have their day in court upon the completion of Investigations. The statement reads in full: “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have smashed a syndicate of alleged fraudsters who specializes in credit card fraud. The arrested suspects, Daniel C. Stephen, Nestor Ezeani, Sonny Okwaraji, Sylvester E Otuwa and Jeff Ogbonaya, allegedly masterminded the theft of $257,822.16 American Dollars from a new generation bank. The alleged fraudulent transaction was reported by the Bank through a petition, alleging that the bank received a mail from VISA International on suspected 60 credit card transactions. The EFCC in a swift action moved and arrested the five suspects at 7th Avenue FESTAC, Lagos. They were arrested with several credit cards in their possession, which they use in loading money before transferring them to other banks. Some of the suspects have made useful statements while investigations continue. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded”