Man caught with 2,886 automated teller machine cards at Lagos airport enroute Dubai
A suspected fraudster Ishaq Abubakar caught concealing 2,886 Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and four SIM cards in noodles while on his way to the United Arab Emirate, Dubai has been arrested
Penpushing reports that the suspect was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and subsequently handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Head Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, Dele Oyewale in a statement on Thursday quoted the Customs Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Abudulmumuni Bako, as saying the suspect came from Kano State and wanted to travel via an Emirate flight.
“The Customs Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Abudulmumuni Bako, who represented the Customs Area Comptroller, A. Ma’aji, said that the suspect, who claimed to have come from Kano to travel to Dubai aboard the Emirate Evacuation flight, was seen with someone who was assigned to facilitate his movement through the airport checks’, he said.
“Officers of the Customs service intercepted the suspect with 2,886 ATM cards and four SIM cards, which he carefully concealed in parks of Noodles.This raised the suspicion of the officers who insisted he should be physically and thoroughly checked after the scan machine had revealed he was carrying parks (sic) of noodles,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that,, the Lagos zonal head of the commission, AbdulRasheed Bawa, who received the suspect on behalf of the agency, assured that the commission would investigate the suspect and others.
“We have taken over Ishaq and I can assure you that we are going to investigate the matter thoroughly and unveil everybody involved in the syndicate. There are a number of possibilities. There is an element of conspiracy, foreign exchange (FOREX) malpractices and money laundering. Indeed, banks and bankers are definitely involved.’ he said”
Penpushing also reports that Bawa, in addition pointed out the possibility of the suspect being a member of a criminal network, stressing, “in recent months, we have observed a trend in which unsuspecting Nigerians are lured into opening accounts to be bought at a fee. Most bankers are not carrying out their duties with due diligence, particularly the Know Your (KYC), procedural check’.
