A 45-year-old man has been apprehended by the Enugu Police Command for the alleged fraudulent acquisition of 18 bags of rice from a local businessman under false pretenses of distributing them to the less privileged.
According to The PUNCH, the spokesperson for the command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, revealed that the suspect, identified as Nnamani Joseph, was arrested on February 20, 2024, in Emene. It was reported that he had repackaged and sold 10 bags of the rice at Orie Emene Market in Enugu.
The incident unfolded on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024, when the suspect visited a church premises in Ogui, Enugu, and purportedly contacted a businessman to purchase 18 bags of 25 kg rice valued at N400,000. He claimed the rice was intended for charity through the church.
Upon the businessman’s agreement, the suspect accompanied him to a bank under the guise of making payment via bank transfer. However, while the businessman waited for the transaction to be completed, the suspect absconded from the bank, returning to the church premises to make off with the bags of rice.
The victim promptly reported the incident to the Ogui Division of the police, leading to a swift response from law enforcement officers.
DSP Ndukwe remarked, “But for the swift response of police operatives… Nnamani Joseph would have successfully defrauded a businessman of 18 bags of rice valued at about N400,000.00, under the guise of buying and using the rice for charity at a church.”
Following an intelligence-driven investigation, the suspect was tracked down and arrested on February 20 in Emene, Enugu. Eight of the stolen bags of rice were recovered from him, while it was discovered that he had already sold the others at Oye Emene Market.