Anambra State Government Apprehends Eight Suspects in N800,000 Extortion Case
Written by Jerry Alomatu on May 10, 2024
The Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, in collaboration with security agencies, has apprehended eight individuals for allegedly extorting over N800,000 from several women in Awka.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, the crackdown followed a directive from the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo. The operation targeted an NGO purportedly using the government’s name to extort sums of N20,000 and above from unsuspecting individuals, mostly women in Awka.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that the suspects operated within the office complex of the Host Communities of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, situated opposite the Government House in Awka. They collaborated with a bank staff to open current accounts for women, who were required to pay N10,000 in cash and purchase the association’s form for an additional N10,000, totaling N20,000 per person.
The suspects had enlisted coordinators in all 21 local government areas of the state to handle cash registrations, while the bank staff managed the account openings at the office complex.
During questioning, the leader of the association, Mrs. Nneka Igboka, initially claimed she was acting on directives from the suspended Humanitarian Minister, Beta Edu. Later, she attributed her actions to the minister’s Senior Special Assistant. However, when asked about the involvement of the Commissioner for Oil, Gas, and Industry, Mrs. Igboka stated it was irrelevant.
The ministry’s staff recovered N146,500, forms, and a smartphone during the operation. Some affected women disclosed they borrowed money for the registration and were promised cooking jobs in schools, while others were assured of oil money and school feeding jobs.
As of now, the suspects and recovered items have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for further investigation, and the matter will be prosecuted in court. Obinabo has urged defrauded individuals to visit the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Center in Awka to initiate the refund process.
Obinabo emphasized that the Soludo-led government does not require payment for job opportunities and cautioned the public to remain vigilant against scams. She assured victims that the government would ensure full refunds and confirmed that the refund process had commenced.
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Author: Jerry Alomatu
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