The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the arrest of members of two syndicate groups allegedly involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit United States dollars (USD) and new naira notes.
Olusola Odumosu, NSCDC’s public relations director, on Friday said the suspects were arrested in Plateau state between February 22 and March 8.
Odumosu said members of one of the groups, consisting of four men, were arrested in possession of fake 64,800 dollars and N475,000.
He also said the counterfeit notes of N1.5 million were seized from the second group of five men.
“From the seized N1.5 million, N784,500 were counterfeit new naira notes while N49,650 was old naira notes,” he said.
The names of members of the syndicate arrested with the sum of N1.5m are ; Dantala Omale, ‘M’, 30yrs, Plateau State, Musa Abdullahi, ‘M’ 24yrs, Plateau state, Audu Abdulazeez, ‘M’, 56yrs, Gombe State, Umar Hassan ‘M’, 46yrs, plateau state and Mahammadu Badaru Yakubu ‘M’ 30yrs, Nasarawa State.
He said members of the first group were apprehended following an intelligence report that they were on their way to deliver the fake notes to a client in Nasarawa state.
He said investigations revealed that the syndicates had operated in Plateau, Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Gombe states for years before their apprehension.
“The arrest was effected when one Dantala Omale was lured to Nasarawa from Plateau state and picked up by the squad on the 22nd of February, 2023, with fake new naira notes of N412,000.
“The arrested suspect confessed getting the fake notes from Musa Abdullahi, AKA Baballe which led to the arrest of Abdullahi on 22nd of February, 2023 at Namu area of Quanpan LGA in Plateau state in possession of N49,650 old naira notes.
“After a thorough interrogation, Abdullahi confessed that he usually gets his supply of fake currencies from one Audu Abdulazeez, AKA Dan-Gombe, who the squad arrested on the 3rd of March 2023, at Plateau Express service motor park in Jos, Plateau State, at about 11:20 a.m with N350,000 fake newly redesigned Naira notes.
“The effort of the squad to arrest all members of the syndicate paid off when Abdulazeez confessed to giving one Umar Hassan the fake notes.
“When Hassan was apprehended, he was in possession of N20,500 and he also confessed to his involvement in the crime and that he regularly transact with one Mohammadu Badaru Yakubu, who was also arrested close to the old CBN office in lafia town, at about 3:10 p.m on March 5, 2023 with fake N2000 of the new Naira notes.
“Further investigation however, revealed that the group operated within and around Plateau, Nasarawa, Bauchi & Gombe states.
“Members of the second syndicate arrested with the exhibits of $64,800 and N475,000 are; Jonathan Dakogol, Abbas Ibrahim, Isa Ukashatu and Aminu Isa.
“Isa Ukashatu and Jonathan Dakogol were arrested with fake $64,800 and N475,000 at Akurba of Lafia LGA, in Nasarawa State after being lured to deliver the money to a client.
“Upon arrest, Dakogol volunteered and led the CG’S SIS operatives to Kurgwi area in Quaan’Pan LGA, Plateau State, where one Aminu Isa who was alleged to be a herbalist was also arrested.
“Isa also led the Squad to the arrest of one 62 years old Abbas Ibrahim in Quaan’Pan LGA, Plateau State who had collected $30,000 fake US Dollars from him.
Odumosu added that the suspects have made confessions about their involvement, noting that the corps was carrying out extensive investigations and manhunting other fleeing syndicate members.
“All suspects at the point of arrest were found in possession of fake dollars and the newly redesigned Naira notes ranging from N500 to N1000 denominations respectively and had also confessed to being involved in the business for over five years.”
The Commandant General, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi has commended the CG’s SIS for a job well done and described the criminal gangs as economic saboteurs destroying the country through the perpetration of financial crimes and defrauding of innocent citizens.
He stated that their arrest is a good omen for the country because it helped to stop the distribution and influx of fake currencies into society which could have caused great setbacks to the economy.
