Based on reliable intelligence, the Commandant General of the Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (CG’s SIS) has detained members of a notorious syndicate that circulated fake dollars and naira in and around the states of Plateau, Nasarawa, Bauchi, and Gombe.
The agency’s special intelligence squad detained two syndicates for their involvement in offenses like criminal conspiracy, cheating, Obtaining By Trick (OBT), and production/distribution of counterfeit US Dollars (USD) and new Naira notes. These counterfeit US dollars and new Naira notes are circulated in society.
Four male adults from one of the groups apprehended were found in possession of counterfeit 64,800 dollars ($64,800) and 475,000 nairas (N475,000) notes, and five male adults from the second group were also found to have counterfeit N1.5 million notes.
“Dantala Omale, “M,” 30 years old, Plateau State; Musa Abdullahi, “M,” 24 years old, Plateau State; Audu Abdulazeez, “M,” 56 years old, Gombe State; Umar Hassan, “M,” 46 years old, Plateau State; and Mahammadu Badaru Yakubu, “M,” 30 years old, Nasarawa State.”
“The statement reads, “The arrest was made when one Dantala Omale from Plateau state was enticed to Nasarawa and picked up by the squad on February 22, 2023, with bogus new naira notes worth N412,000.”
However, Musa Abdullahi, Also Known As, (AKA), Baballe was apprehended on February 22, 2023, in the Namu area of Quanpan LGA in Plateau state in possession of N49,650 in counterfeit notes after the arrested suspect admitted to purchasing the notes from Abdullahi.
After a thorough interrogation, Abdullahi confessed that he typically purchases his counterfeit money from one Audu Abdulazeez, AKA Dan-Gombe, who the squad apprehended on March 3, 2023, at the Plateau Express service motor park in Jos, Plateau State, at around 11:20 a.m. with N350,000 worth of counterfeit newly redesigned Naira notes.
It was apprehended with N350,000 in fake, freshly redesigned Naira currency on March 3, 2023, at the Plateau Express service motor park in Jos, Plateau State, at around 11:20 a.m.
All of the syndicate’s members were ultimately detained after Abdulazeez admitted to delivering one Umar Hassan the bogus notes while the squad’s investigation continued. Hassan was found to have N20,500 at the time of his detention.
Hassan had admitted to being involved in the crime and said he frequently transacted with Mohammadu Badaru Yakubu, who was also detained on March 5, 2023, at around 3:10 p.m. with fake N2000 of the new Naira notes close to the old CBN office in Lafia Town.
In conclusion, at the time of their arrest, all suspects were discovered to have counterfeit money, including newly created Naira notes with denominations ranging from N500 to N1000. They also admitted to having been involved in the business for more than five years and are set to undergo jail terms.
Source: Punch
