Senator Nwobodo: Career criminal with nine lives

Princewill Arinze Nwobodo alias Eze, 65

Three gunmen in police uniform, on February 20, 2014, snatched an accused fraudster, Princewill Arinze Nwobodo alias Eze, 65, from a prison warder at the Igbosere area of Lagos State.  

The incident occurred around 1:30pm. The gunmen appeared from nowhere, snatched Nwobodo, bundled him into a Honda Accord Saloon car with unknown registration number and vanished. Till date, nobody knew the security agency that assisted Nwobodo to thwart justice.

Nwobodo had been charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for obtaining $ 92,000 under false pretence. The trial was on-going when he disappeared.

Rather than repent after his escape, he had gone to carve a niche for himself in crime. This present arrest by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, Police Command, would be the fourth times he had been arrested.

He had been arrested by the EFCC, Special Fraud Unit, Zone II Police and twice by SARS, Ikeja. But like a cat with nine lives, Nwobodo had always managed to land back on his feet.

While chatting with our correspondent, the suspect who goes by several alias, declared: “I’ll never come back to SARS again in Jesus name!”

Senator Nwobodo, a father of five, was alleged to have houses spread across the nation, including a hostel in Edo State. He goes about in a tinted car, fitted with a radio base, where police radio messages are intercepted. The car also has siren which blares whenever he is on the road. Nwobodo is not much of a talker, but he gives more insights about himself and why he is called a senator below;

What brought you here?

I was arrested on February 26, 2015, on allegation of collecting funds from operators of bureau de change.   

How do you guys operate?

We make calls to bureau de change operators that we want to buy dollars. When the operator comes with the dollar, there would be a way to frighten him. Our members would come, dressed in EFCC vests. Once they see these supposed EFCC men, they would be scared because most of them don’t have licenses to operate.

If the supposed EFCC operatives come in, what happens next?

We make an arrest, since the operator had already come with the dollars to the agreed venue.

Who makes the arrest?

Our members that put on the EFCC vests; while pretending that we want to buy dollars, our guys in the EFCC vests would appear and bring out handcuffs to arrest the operator.

How do you profit from such a scam?

The operator had already brought the dollars to us. Our gang members make an arrest. The person who brought the dollar would be arrested.

How do you make money?

The operator is already with the dollar. When we arrest him, we confiscate the money from him and then allow him to go. Usually after arrest, we pretend we are taking him to the EFCC office. They would start begging. We allow them to go, but without all the money.

How do you get the phone numbers of the operators?

There are millions of bureau de change operators in the country. Getting their phone numbers is not a difficult feat. 

Do they have directory?

As far as I’m concerned, getting their phone numbers is not a difficult process.

But I don’t even have any?

If you walk on the road and you want one million phone numbers of bureau de change operators, you’ll get it!

How long have you being into this crime?

 I’ve done it about 10 times. We started last year.

How much have you made from it?

If I’m not mistaken, it should be running to 350 or 700,000 dollars. The money doesn’t go to me alone. We share it.

How did you get into this business?

I’ve been into international transaction for long. I had a bureau de change operator as a friend called Hamza. He is late now. I gave him 1.4 million dollars to pay into his account. I was the person that spear-headed the payment into his account. When Hamza received the money, he lied that the money did not enter his account. I went through pains over the issue of that money.  

Are you on a revenge mission then?

Yes! It’s because of that major pain.

Where did you meet Bassey Williams Ekpenyoung?

I met him here at SARS. About four years ago.

Where are other gang members?

Everybody is here.

Are you the leader? 

Yes.

How many property do you have?

I have a hotel, house and university hostel.

Does your wife know what you do?

I have five children; my wife doesn’t know anything about this.

How do you explain the millions to her?

She knows I was into international business.

Does she know that you are into fraud?

She got to know after I was arrested first.

What was her reaction?

She actually advised me against such. She never knew I went back into it.

How many times have you been arrested?

I’ve had case with the EFCC and the police at Zone II. It was the issue of me buying a car. I didn’t complete the payment because of some reasons. Zone II transferred the case to SARS. When we settled it, I was released.

What did you do that made EFCC arrest you?

It was an allegation of fraud.

What happened?

 My account was traced to some fund with other people and I was arrested at Abuja.

How much was that?

It was an allegation. It was 124million dollars. I attempted to move the money into a person’s account, but I didn’t know where the person was moving the money from.

Four years ago you were arrested. You claimed to be a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Back then you claimed the allegation was false. You never looked remorseful. But today, you look remorseful. What happened?

There is nothing different with what happened then and now. The crimes are similar. I look remorseful now because of my age and my personality. It’s unfortunate that issues of this nature would be happening. I was arrested at Abuja and brought down here. It was the same thing now.

Are you a senator?

I’m not,

This is your second time at SARS. Do you plan to come back here again?

To be candid, nobody would like to come to SARS; it’s not my portion in Jesus name!

Where you ever charged to court?

Yes, I was charged to court.

Where you convicted?

No! After a while in court, my lawyer signed for my bail because nobody was taking me to court. And when I arrived at the court seven times, nobody came. I was granted bail. I went to court again and nobody came to court.

So you went back to what you do?

I have a lot of responsibilities. I have children. It’s not like I wake up on the street and started defrauding people. There were other things I do. I’m a committed husband.

What other things do you do?

I’m a businessman. I’m into hospitality. I travel to do businesses. I invest in businesses.

What’s your total share so far from these scams?

I have made like over 200,000 dollars.

Why do you intercept police messages?

Police came to my house and found police Walkie-Talkies. To be candid, it has nothing to do whatever with impersonation of the police or intercepting police messages. I used them six years ago for politics. Since then, I’ve kept them. Even the batteries are dead. I’d no intention to intercept the police messages because I and the police had nothing in common. I have friends in the senate, governorship and local council. I was supporting politicians and I’m a stakeholder.

Would it be correct to say that you associated with politicians because you know they’ll take your bail once you’re arrested?

I’ve never called any politician to any police station! I’m not a professional trouble maker! If I was, I would have been to SARS seven times. I don’t pray to come back here.