A self-proclaimed informant for the
Directorate of State Security, Okon Ntiedo, has been arrested for
swindling over 50 unemployed persons from Cross River and Akwa Ibom
states of N3.5m, under the guise of securing federal appointments for
them.
The 27-year-old suspect, who was
arrested on Thursday at a drinking spot in the Afokang area of Calabar
South, is currently being detained at the Mbukpa Police Station in
Calabar.
Ntiedo had allegedly promised to secure
employment for the victims at the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria
Immigration Service, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria
Prisons Service and other federal parastatals.
He was said to have collected between
N100, 000 and N250, 000 from the victims under the pretence that it
would be used to process their forms and lobby officials in the Federal
Ministry of Internal Affairs.
When PUNCH Metro visited the
police station on Monday, Ntiedo confessed that he had collected various
sums of money from the victims but alleged that the total money
collected was N2m and not N3.5m.
He said he had worked in collaboration
with a medical officer in the Nigeria Air Force, who is based in Kaduna,
and a personal assistant in the ministry of internal affairs (names
withheld).
Ntiedo said he was willing to pay back
the money to the victims, but added that other “partners” would have to
bring what he had transferred to them through their accounts.
He also said he had worked as an
informant for the SSS since 2007, although he did not have any official
identity card from the directorate.
Ntiedo said, “I have been working for
the SSS since 2007 as an informant and have been posted to various parts
of the country to monitor one activity or the other.
“I have also worked with the other
suspects and we have maintained constant interactions. We have been
working together based on agreed percentage.”
An Akwa Ibom State indigene, who was a victim, said he was introduced to Ntiedo by the air force personnel.
The 40-year-old victim, who pleaded
anonymity, said, “I have known the air force official for more than 10
years. I didn’t have any cause to doubt him when he introduced Ntiedo to
me.
“We rallied round our communities,
gathered our sons and daughters, who are unemployed and those who did
not have good jobs. We took a loan with an expectation of getting the
jobs.
“Ntiedo told us on the telephone that
the appointment would be available by September but September came and
passed, no sign of anything. We started investigations and discovered
that the suspect was staying in Calabar, Cross River State.
“He was just sending text messages to
us to pay in money into three accounts and we kept on paying. Our
tellers are with us and we have given copies to the police.”
Another victim, who identified himself
as Emmanuel, said, “Initially I paid N100, 000 to an account belonging
to the younger brother of the air force personnel, but his younger
brother (name withheld) later died.
“When the brother died, I called the
air force man with the deceased’s phone and he (personnel) told me that
he will take up the project personally but that I should call Ntiedo
and pay an additional N75,000 which I did. Unfortunately, nothing was
done about the employment.”
When contacted, the Cross River State
Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Hogan Bassey, confirmed the story,
saying the suspect had been arrested.
He said, “The information is correct
and there is no attempt to release Ntiedo from detention because
investigations are continuing. When we are through, he will be
transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further
investigations. He is not an employee of the SSS; we have confirmed
that. His so called residential address is still in doubt.”
PUNCH
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