Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of a 63-year-old man, Ernesto Chukwukamma, on suspicion of extortion, impersonation, and obtaining money under false pretences.
According to a statement issued by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday, Mr. Chukwukamma is accused of threatening a petitioner and receiving a sum of ₦2 million (approximately $1,300 USD) in exchange for allegedly influencing an investigation into a purported $4.5 billion Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) fraud.
The suspect is said to have falsely presented himself as a journalist affiliated with the EFCC. He allegedly informed the petitioner that other reporters within a correspondents’ chapel attached to the commission possessed a report claiming the petitioner had stolen funds during the winding down of the PTF.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect had already received the sum of N2,000,000.00 from the petitioner and was arrested while attempting to withdraw the funds,” Mr. Oyewale stated.
The EFCC indicated that Mr. Chukwukamma will be charged in court once investigations are concluded.
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