The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Emmanuel Oluwaniyi, the controller of Kirikiri Maximum Prison for his alleged involvement in allowing a convicted internet fraudster, Hope Aroke, receive treatment outside the prison.
Hemeson Edson Edwin, who is in charge of medicals at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison was also arrested.
The two suspects, Oluwaniyi and Edwin, both on the rank of Deputy Controller (DC), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), were arrested on Monday, November 25, 2019, by operatives of the Commission.
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According to EFCC, the duo allegedly connived together to give exaggerated medical reports that warranted a convicted internet fraudster, Hope Olusegun Aroke, who is serving a 24-year jail term, being given a referral to be treated outside the facility.
This, according to EFCC created a chance for Aroke to pull a scam to the tune of over $1 million from prison, using a network of accomplices.
The EFCC said according to preliminary investigation the convict had access to the internet and mobile phone in detention which is against the rules.
In a statement, Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the anti-graft agency, said the two were arrested on Monday. “The suspects have given useful information to the Commission about their alleged involvement in the crime,”.
“Aroke was one of the two Malaysia-based Nigerian undergraduate fraudsters arrested by the EFCC towards the end of 2012 at the 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, following a tip-off.”
Aroke, who hails from Okene in Kogi State, had claimed to be a student of computer science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia.
“When Aroke was arrested, a search conducted by EFCC operatives on his apartment led to the recovery of several items such as laptops, iPad, traveling documents, cheque books, flash drives, internet modem, and three exotic cars – a Mercedes Benz Jeep, One 4Matic Mercedes Benz Car and a Range Rover Sport SUV,” Uwujaren said.
“He was eventually convicted by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery.
“He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment on each of the two.”
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