Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna State Zonal Command, have apprehended one Nuhu Haruna for his alleged involvement in a fraudulent transaction amounting to N1 billion, News About Nigeria reports.
The arrest, as announced via the EFCC’s official Twitter handle on Wednesday, resulted from a petition filed by an undisclosed individual in December 2023.
According to the EFCC, the petitioner had engaged Haruna for a foreign exchange transaction involving N1,020,000.00.
The petitioner reportedly paid the mentioned amount into Haruna’s account, expecting its equivalent in dollars.
However, the petitioner later discovered that the evidence of payments provided by Haruna was false, and he never received the expected dollar equivalent.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Haruna, who claimed to be an airline captain, diverted the funds for personal use.
He allegedly purchased properties and vehicles, intending to use them for the establishment of his purported airline company, Air Unity Aviation Services.
The EFCC disclosed that a landed property bought at N155,000, another acquired at N350,000, three 18-seater Toyota Hiace buses imprinted with the logo of Air Unity Aviation Services, and four exotic cars were traced to the suspect.
Haruna is expected to face charges in court following further investigations by the anti-graft agency.
In a separate incident, the immediate-past governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, spent a second night in EFCC custody over an alleged N10 billion misappropriation.
The EFCC is reportedly interrogating him on the allegations.
Additionally, six suspects were arrested in Lagos State for their alleged involvement in currency racketeering and the sale of new naira notes for commercial purposes, according to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale.
