EFCC arrests man for impersonating Okonjo-Iweala's secretary

The Economic and Financial crimes commission has arrested a man for impersonating a secretary of Nigeria's finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. The suspect allegedly duped a chinese man of over $5000.

Read the EFCC's press statement below.....

A suspected fraudster that impersonated Barrister Wilson Amarachi, Secretary to Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.(continue)...

John Nze Madu was arrested at Diamond Bank, Ojodu branch, Lagos, where he went to make withdrawals with an ATM card.

Investigation showed that Madu defrauded Wu Qingzhu, a Chinese national, of the sum of $5380 when he allegedly posed as Barrister Wilson Amarachi and deceived the Chinese into believing that he had outstanding payments to collect for contracts executed for the Nigerian government.

This he achieved by presenting the Chinese with fake documents from ranking Nigerian officials. He allegedly used different email addresses, two documents purportedly from Daily Sun Newspaper, an official gazette purportedly signed by the President Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, David Mark and an international passport data page purportedly belonging to Bar Amarachi.

Madu contacted Qingzhu through an online message, informing him that he was expected to open a non-residence account in Nigeria and make payment of $300. Qingzhu complied and made two other payments: $1430 and $3650 through Western Union.

Madu was arrested at the bank premises where he went to withdraw proceeds of his fraudulent activities.

He would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
22nd August, 2014