Customs arrests suspected fraudster over employment scam

The Nigeria Customs Service has arrested one Anas Abdulahi, an alleged fraudster who was said to specialize in impersonating the Customs Comptroller General thereby duping unsuspecting job seekers of their hard earned money.

Abdullahi met his waterloo when he was apprehended by personnel of the NCS in the process of collecting payment from an unsuspecting Nigerian for two employment slots.

The NCS, in a statement posted on its website yesterday, said charges had been filed against Abdullahi for forgery and obtaining money under false pretense. The two count charge filed at the Federal High Court Abuja carry a maximum of 14 years and two years, respectively.

One of the charges with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/202/2015 reads, “That you Anas Abdullahi of No 3 Federal Low Cost Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State on or about 8th day of March, counterfeited a Nigeria Customs Service Logo on a letter of employment for the purpose of authenticating the document of Nigeria Customs Service Board’s employment intending that such letter should be used for the purpose of giving the appearance of authenticity to the document in favour of Maxwell Chukwudi Aneke and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 369 of the Penal Code.”

Unknown to Abdulahi while delivering the forged employment letter and collecting the balance, the applicant alerted men of the NCS who arrested him.

One of the arresting officers Musa Y.J. in his statement noted that Abdullahi was caught with fake appointment letters bearing Nigeria Customs Service.

Confessing to the crime, Abdulahi acknowledged that he was in the business of defrauding unsuspecting members of the public with his boss one Alhaji Hamza, who is still at large.

He stated that gratification for the job offer was pegged at N500, 000 while he had received N250, 000 being part payment before he was caught.

An affidavit expressing readiness to prosecute has been sworn to at the Federal High Court Abuja and Anas will be in court to face the charges.

Meanwhile, the Customs boss, Dikko Inde Abdullahi has promoted a Customs Assistant I,Musa Yusuf, to a new rank of Senior Customs Assistant and also decorated him with the service gold medal for show of gallantry and use of intelligence which resulted in the arrest of Anas Abdullahi.



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