By Yusuf Adua
A swindler and thief who specialises in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public by posing as a Nigerian Air Force Officer has been arrested by the Katsina State Police Command.
SP Gambo Isah, The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, revealed this in a statement made available to News Live Nigeria correspondents.
According to the statement, the Command succeeded in arresting one Khamis Abdullah of W02 Quarters, NDA, Kaduna, a notorious fraudster and thief who specialises in defrauding and stealing from unsuspecting members of the public using fake bank transfer alert and similar other tricks.
The PPRO divulged that nemesis caught up with the hoodlum when on November 24 at about 10:11 am, he dressed in a Nigerian Air Force uniform bearing the name K. Abdullahi with Captain rank, approached one Muhammadu Isah Girka, a car dealer in Alfrah Motors Limited, IBB Way, Katsina and introduced himself as an Air Force Captain who returned from the United Kingdom and posted to Katsina on special duty as a Pilot.
He stated that the suspect demanded to buy a motor vehicle, Toyota Corolla S, 2016 Model, blue in colour, valued at N5,400,000 from the car stand.
Isah said he did promise to come later and pay for the vehicle.
He remarked that subsequently on December 2 at about 10:45 am, he called the said car dealer and asked him to meet him at First Bank, Yahaya Madawaki Way, Katsina, and collect his money for the vehicle.
Isah said in the process, he deceitfully filled a bank transfer teller for the sum of #5.4 million stamped with his fabricated fake stamp and asked the victim to append his signature.
He noted that the suspect later created a fake bank alert of the said amount and showed it to the victim who believed it to be true and genuine.
He further explained that they later proceeded to Alfra Motors, where the fake military Captain deceitfully took the vehicle and left to an unknown destination.
The PPRO said the victim reported the matter to the police and investigation began in earnest.
Isah articulated that in the course of the investigation, the suspect was accosted with the stolen vehicle at Hunkuyi Junction on the highway along Danja to Zaria.
He stated that the suspect also confessed to have used the same modus operandi on that fateful date and deceitfully collected one iPhone X valued N185,000 from one Abdulwahab of Unguwar Alkali Quarters, Katsina, which was also recovered in his possession.
“The following items were recovered in the possession of the suspect during police search: One T-Shirt with Captain rank and UN Badge, One Toyota Corolla, 2016 Model, three iPhone GSM handsets, one Infinix phone, one fabricated fake First Bank rubber stamp, two fake stamped First Bank tellers, motor vehicle documents and stamp pad,” the PPRO detailed.
Isah noted that the investigation revealed that he is a habitual offender and an ex-convict who has been convicted several times for similar offences in Kaduna State complementing that the investigation was still ongoing.
