By Longtong Ibrahim
Kaduna (Nigeria) – The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Jonathan Odu Isikwei (51) for unlawful possession of 448 travelers Cheques, and also Pascal Onuora Udeh (34) for being in possession of 108 Automated Teller Machine (ATM)/debit cards.
Statement by the commissions’ head of media and publicity, Wilson Uwujaren explained that both suspect were arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos state by the Operatives of the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Isikwei was arrested during the outward clearance of passengers on a Belgium- bound flight while Udeh was arrested during the clearance on a Qatar Airline flight to China.
It further revealed that, the 448 travelers’ Cheques recovered from Isikwei, belongs to four banks in America, Europe and Canada. They are; Gun Nebo Inc. (Bank of Nova Scotia)- 117 pieces, Post bank Frankfurt -258 pieces, Safe Federal Credit Union -41 pieces and RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) -32 pieces; adding that all the cheques were signed, of which some has monetary value written on them.
“Among the Cheques belonging to Safe Federal Credit Union, 27 pieces were blank while 14 pieces has monetary value worth 322,800 US Dollars. Twenty Seven pieces of the travelers’ Cheques belonging to Gun Nebo Canada Inc. were blank while 90 pieces has monetary value worth 354,300 Canadian Dollars.”
Isikwei claims he exports dried fish from Nigeria to Belgium, and told the investigators that he collected the parcel for onward delivery to a friend without any knowledge of its content.
Similarly, Udeh claims to be a trader and also an undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He said his business associates gave him 108 debit cards to use in China to purchase men’s clothing.
The suspect will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, says the commission.
Isikwei is a native of Igbodo in Aniocha Local Government Area of Delta state while Udeh is a native of Umudim Village of Obibi, Ochasi Ato, in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.
