Korean gives herbalist N30m for NNPC licence

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Office, has arrested a 31-year-old Islamic scholar/herbalist, Jamiu Isiaka, for defrauding a South Korean of N30 million.

He allegedly committed the crime while impersonating the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adeshina, among other prominent Nigerians.

The suspect, with others who are still at large, allegedly used the names of the senior government officials to defraud the South Korean national, Keun Sig Kim, under the pretext of getting him a licence from the NNPC.

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The petitioner said he had paid about N30 million into the suspect’s account as fee to get the licence from the NNPC.

“I transferred 4,285 dollars, seventy-one cents only to the United Bank for Africa account number 2107575870 in the name of one Jamiu Isiaka, an associate of Mr Shola Adeshina. It is noteworthy that this account’s particulars have been provided severally for me to make transfer to,” the petitioner said.

However, Isiaka, during interrogation by officials of the EFCC, claimed that he used the money to make a fetish sacrifice for the petitioner.

He claimed to have used the money to buy a vulture, elephant’s skin and intestines, a lion’s skull, gorilla’s liver, among other items.

The EFCC said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court, while efforts were being made to arrest his accomplices who are still at large.