One of the country’s presidential aspirant on the platform of the Nigeria Liberation Party (NPL), Mr. Osita Emmanuel Okereke has been arrested by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over his role in the operation of a task force considered illegal.
The task force allegedly headed by Okeke, according to the commission, engaged in recruitment racketeering, extortion and obtaining money by false pretense.
He was, however, granted administrative bail while the EFCC continues with its findings.
According to the anti-graft agency, the syndicate disguises as a National Task Force with the major role of fighting importation and smuggling of small arms, ammunition and light weapons.
Apart from this, the gang also allegedly engaged in defrauding several Nigerians, including the unemployed by compelling them to pay N5,000 each for a non-existent employment into the federal government ministries, departments and agencies. This they did by selling employment forms through the various offices scattered around the country, the commission said.
The EFCC further claimed that the arrest followed series of undercover investigations as well as intelligence report, which were on for several weeks. Officers of the agency then hit one of the syndicate’s offices at the Federal Secretariat Complex, Enugu, where they arrested the zonal o-coordinator, Obinna C. Onyekwelu, and nine others.
The other suspects are Ajuani Uchenna, Emmanuel Ngwu, Kenneth Ambrose, Ogunjimi Charles, Uzoamaka Ikwunne, Chinwe Ogbu, Onyia Fidelia, Eze Amobi and Anioke Obinna.
In addition, EFCC disclosed that its officials found several documents and cash after conducting a search at the office, adding that these documents would aid its further investigation into the activities of the syndicate.
