National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
By: Okosun Dennis
Efforts of the Nigerian Police to weed the society of criminal gangs especially fraudsters has yeilded positive result as the Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL, National Central Bureau, Abuja arrested two suspects for their complicity in a major multi-million Euro scam bordering on procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The suspects, Babatunde Adesanya a.k.a Teddy, 50, and a Masters degree holder in Cell Biology and Akinpelu Hassan Abass, 41, who is the M.D Musterpoint Investment Nig. Limited, are members of a sophisticated transnational criminal network.
They allegedly cloned the corporate website of ILBN Holdings BV, Holland to transact with and defrauded one Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn, a representative of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Confirming the arrest, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba, disclosed that the arrest of the suspects was sequel to a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) received by the Bureau from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice conveying a request from the German Government for investigations into a fraudulent transaction on the procurement of COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment linked to a Nigerian-based Bank Account.
However, discreet investigations by INTERPOL Nigeria revealed that the suspects and their Holland-based cohorts, one Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder specialized in identity theft, cyber-stalking, cloning of corporate websites amongst other cyber mischiefs to defraud unsuspecting members of the public across the world.
It was learnt that the suspects fraudulently obtained from Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn £1.5m Euro and another £880,000 Euro as advanced payment for the supply of COVID-19 PPEs valued at £14.7million Euros.
Disturbed by the non-arrival of the PPEs, Mr Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn eventually visited the corporate office of ILBN Holdings BV in Holland to inquire reasons for the delay in supplying the items.
To his consternation, he found out that the company never did any business with him and that the transaction was a scam.
It was further revealed that the fraudsters merely cloned the company’s website and falsely presented themselves as representatives of the company before subsequently executing the fraudulent transaction.
Consequently, the victm, Mr. Freiherr Fredrick Von Hahn reported the case of fraud to the Police in Holland and this led to the arrest of Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder in Holland and investigations were extended to Nigeria.
Investigation by INTERPOL Nigeria further revealed that Babatunde Adesanya received £498,000 Euro from Eduardus Boomstra and Geradius Maulder through his Citibank London account and transferred same to an account number domiciled with a Lagos branch of a leading commercial bank in Nigeria belonging to Musterpoint Investment Nigeria Limited.
While commending the Commissioner of Police, INTERPOL, CP Garba Baba Umar and operatives of INTERPOL Nigeria, Cybercrime Unit for a job well done, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, assured members of the public and the international community of the commitment of the Force to tackle cybercrimes and other transnational crimes.
He reiterated that there would be no hiding place for internet fraudsters in the country, adding that the suspects would be arraigned before a competent court of law soon.
