Crime News
Photo: Fake Nigerian Customs Officers Posting Car Auction Ads On Facebook Arrested In Lagos
Feb 24, 2015 – Picture: Fake Nigerian Customs Officers Posting Car Auctions Ads On Facebook Arrested In Lagos
The police in Lagos have arrested a fake Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Ramoni Raji, who along with two others allegedly duped their victims of not less than N5m in auction sales.
Metro learnt that Raji, with the other suspects ─ Usman Ibrahim and Adekunle Thomas ─ was apprehended on Tuesday, February 17, in the Gowon Estate area of Lagos. They were arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Our correspondent gathered that while Raji disguised as a DSC, Thomas pretended to be Raji’s driver, while Ibrahim was in charge of giving out bank account for victims to pay.
It was gathered that Raji told victims that he was in charge of auctioning vehicles and some goods in containers.
The police explained that the three allegedly usually took their victims to the Wharf, Apapa area to show them the goods and vehicles.
Our correspondent learnt that a victim, identified simply as Mrs. Uche, was duped of N1.8m when she opted to buy an auctioned Toyota Highlander and paid the sum into an account supplied by the suspects.
Speaking with Metro, 63-year-old Raji from Okene, Kogi State, confessed that he had used the customs uniform to dupe victims in Abuja, Lagos and Ilorin, Kwara State.
He said, “I am not a customs officer. I decided to buy the uniform to do business. I bought it from a tailor for N5, 000 with all the kits. The tailor did not know I was not a customs officer.
“I bought the DSC uniform and rank in 2013. The name on the uniform is Yakubu Lawal. I used the uniform to do fake auction sales. I went to Uche’s shop on Unity Road, Ikeja, and convinced her to pay for the vehicle. She initially paid N800, 000 and then the balance subsequently.
“We also have buyers who had fallen into our trap in Ilorin and Abuja. We made N3.5m from a deal in Ilorin, Kwara State. We made N1.4m from another deal.”
Raji, who lived with his family in the Ipaja area of Lagos, added that he became a suspected fraudster when he lost his job with a flour mill firm.
Adekunle, 52, from Ido, Ekiti State, who feigned as the driver, told our correspondent that he was paid 10 per cent on every deal Raji brought to the gang.
He said, “It was last year that I met Raji. I drove him whenever he went to meet his clients. He usually gave me 10 per cent on every deal. We met at a beer parlour, and we became good friends. I did not know it will get us into trouble.”
Ibrahim, 39-year-old from Kano State, also noted that he got about N250,000 from the deals he participated in.
“When we made the N1.4m, he paid me N140, 000. I also got N80,000 from another deal,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, confirmed the arrest, adding that investigations were ongoing at the SARS into the matter.
He said, “The fake customs officer was arrested with full DSC rank in customs uniform. He and others have duped several citizens. Investigation continues at the SARS.”
[Reported by Olaleye Aluko, Punch Metro]
kafayat
February 24, 2015 at 5:38 AM
So these are the dudes posting those long ads on my Fb page. God has fished u out now it is time for your disgrace
Metu Nyetu
February 24, 2015 at 5:52 AM
There still are many odas out there. Glory b2God dat diz once hav bn caught.
prince of ijesha
February 24, 2015 at 5:48 AM
Good for them let them vomit all the money they took from innocent people
Saphire
February 24, 2015 at 6:46 AM
Hmmmmm and they ar nt igbos….glory be to God….hosanna….ebenezer…allahu akbar ooo…and for like three weeks now..this tribe is yet to mentioned for any crime here….Oke mmiri na ebu ogwe..Chineke di ndu…na gbara ndi gi ogu na aha Jisos..amin…..God bless nigeria
Lady D
February 24, 2015 at 9:25 PM
@ Saphire, your thought process is one of the reasons why, Nigeria isn’t really ONE. Instead of posting reasonable and an intellectual message, your rejoicing because the culprits aren’t Igbo. Now if they were Igbo what would you do or say? I suggest you keep your ****, if you don’t have anything *** and have several seats. Mtcheeeew……Tribalism at one of its worst…..
Metu Nyetu
February 25, 2015 at 12:51 AM
Lady D, is dat a title or wat? U hav no reason watsoeva 4dat atak on Saphire. Wen her kinsmen were labelled d black sheep of d coun3, u didnt call dat tribalism. Nw dat she rejoices @d vindication of her ppl, u’v suddnly awoken 2a facile concern about Nigeria’s unity. Abeg match break there!
@Saphire, de sing ur song jare! Me I dey bak u up wit drums, guitar & trumpet!
Saphire
February 25, 2015 at 7:43 AM
@metu….nwanne ara agbabago ndi ara live…udo ashibago na ala igbo…chineke na agbara ndi Ya ogu…onye odi njo ya mabaye na river niger…udo dili gi
Lady D
February 25, 2015 at 7:50 AM
@ Metutu or whatever your name is, its a name I choose to utilize whenever I want post a message! Problem??? And FYI, I was not there for nothing, I don’t owe you any explanation. There was no reason for @Saphire to indirectly attack another ethnic group, just because her igbo people were not caught in there usual frauds…..#Punintended. I bet you wish that only igbos “ran” Nigeria. (knowing that can not happen in a million years) Metutu and Saphire have that divide and conquer mind set, that isn’t wanted in Nigeria.
********
Metu Nyetu
February 25, 2015 at 7:45 PM
@Saphire, udo dirikwa gi na onwe gi. Pls do u undastand dis Lady D’s reply 2me? Ejim aka na isi agbakabe the girl.
Lady D
February 25, 2015 at 10:16 PM
I see Metutu can’t comprehend simple ******, go figure! Since you want to post in that language of yours and want to act uncivilized, I too can do the same. Ti o ba wa a asiwere omokunrin ati nusale mi. Lo ki o si se nkan ti dara pelu aye re. Omo ale. I don’t intend to reply back to your ******……Bye *****
Lady D
February 25, 2015 at 10:19 PM
I think I will no longer respond to your *****. Do Better Metutu!
Mayor
February 24, 2015 at 2:04 PM
Is nt they fault, is bcos they r jobless so pls set dem free, and creat job opportunities 4 dem.
sir J
February 24, 2015 at 5:19 PM
If this guys were to be Igbos am sure we will have more than 55 coments here. Tomoro one ***** will open mouth and talk nonscence.
Big Daddy
February 24, 2015 at 7:36 PM
Well they didnt steal according to the statement of Jonathan it is corruption, similar to what the ministers doing e.g Ngozi Nwela, petrol minister, & the Aviation Minister.
Lady D
February 25, 2015 at 10:16 PM
I see Metutu can’t comprehend simple ******, go figure! Since you want to post in that language of yours and want to act uncivilized, I too can do the same. Ti o ba wa a asiwere omokunrin ati nusale mi. Lo ki o si se nkan ti dara pelu aye re. Omo ale. I don’t intend to reply back to your ******……Bye *****
Concerned citizen
September 22, 2015 at 5:51 PM
If you google Nigerian customs car auction, a similar scam is still taking place, they try and get money from you upfront, and the one I came across gave me these account details for payments. Akidiri. M topa, first bank, account number 3081427724
moses
February 3, 2016 at 2:57 PM
Hahahahahahah
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