EFCC nabs “serial fraudster”
Tariah Otumba Fred, a staff of the Federal Ministry of Environment in Bayelsa State, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for allegedly being a serial fraudster.
The suspect allegedly heads a notorious syndicate who specializes in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public and corporate organizations using the office of the Federal Controller of Environment, Yenagoa.
The suspect is alleged to have opened an account in Sterling Bank using the name, The Controller, Federal Ministry of Environment, Bayelsa State in which he was a signatory. One Mr. Education Zghadina who has also been arrested by the Commission was also a signatory to the account.
Fred majorly operated by giving companies in the state demand notice prompting them to make payment to the Federal Ministry of Environment for environmental impact assessment permit.
The suspect also presented himself as pollution coordinator of the ministry, a position that does not exist, he employed officers and them issued identity cards as Revenue Collecting agents for the ministry.
When a search was conducted in his house, several items such as fake Identity cards of various organizations, stamps of different organizations, letter heads of the National inland Waterways and Ministry of Environment, and Identity card with his picture as a Navy Captain were found.
The suspect would be taken to court after investigations are completed.
