Redesigned Naira: House Of Reps Candidate Caught With N326 million, $140,500 Cash

The Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, was arrested with wad of cash amid crackdown on currency hoarders ahead of release of redesigned naira notes.

Atumeyi was arrested with N326 million and $ 140,500 cash in an apartment at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarinpa, Abuja, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed in a statement on Tuesday. 

During the operation by EFCC, the NNPP lawmaker was arrested alongside an alleged serial fraudster, Joshua Dominic, the anti-graft agency revealed. 

Atumeyi’s arrest comes six days after the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said the anti-graft agency will crackdown on illegal hoarders of the naira. 

Prime Business Africa had reported that Bawa warned Nigerian commercial banks and Bureau De Change operators to be wary of persons trying to use their channel to dump naira notes obtained illegally due to the planned release of the redesigned naira notes on December 15, 2022. 

EFCC alleged that Atumeyi, Dominic, and a former bank employee, Abdumalik Salau Femi, defrauded the latter’s company of N1.4 billion. It was also disclosed that Abdulmalik was arrested with $470,000 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos. 

“Atumeyi, who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly was arrested on Sunday, October 30, 2022, alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana,  Gwarinpa, Abuja. 

“Also arrested in connection with the Fraud is Abdumalik Salau Femi, a former bank employee, who allegedly supplied the inside information that facilitated the attack on the bank by the syndicate.  He was picked up today, November 1, 2022, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos. Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu, where a total of $470,000 USD was recovered.” the statement reads. 

EFCC also said, “The syndicate allegedly moved N887million into the account of Fav Oil and Gas Limited, from where the monies were paid to several Bureau de Change operators and some auto dealers for exchange into United States dollars and purchase of high-end cars. 

“Dominic, who has severally been arrested for fraud, allegedly helped Atumeyi perfect the hacking plan through Abdumalik. Dominic, a self-styled investment expert and managing director of Brisk Capital Limited was arrested in May 2021 by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police for an alleged N2billion investment scam. He allegedly defrauded over 500 persons in a phony investment scheme.

“Two Range Rover Luxury SUVs were also recovered from the two suspects arrested in Abuja. They will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”