Posted by By Victor Ogbonnaya , Lagos and Stan Okeke , Enugu on
A traditional ruler in the South Eastern part of the country has become the latest fish in the dragnet of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was arrested for an alleged 419 offence.
A traditional ruler in the South Eastern part of the country has become the latest fish in the dragnet of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as he was arrested for an alleged 419 offence.
Identified as Igwe Godwin Madu, the traditional ruler was arrested in Enugu by operatives of the EFCC at a suite in a hotel in the centre of the city.
His arrest, Daily Sun gathered, was prompted after a tip-off by the New Citizens Forum, a non-governmental organisation, NGO, promoting better Nigeria image.
It was also gathered that the traditional ruler had between 2002 and 2004, posed as Mustapha alongside one Patrick Eke, alias Aguiyi, to defraud an American of the sum of $1.4million.
The traditional ruler was alleged to have received in various 419 deals, sums of money ranging from $45,000, $72,000, $65,000 which were allegedly paid into his Bank accounts in Accra, Ghana, Dublin, Ireland and Taipei-Tai, China.
Also, the traditional ruler was alleged to have worked in the deal to defraud the American who was identified as Mr. Ishmael Lightborne with another person identified as Chinedu John.
Chinedu John was alleged to have posed as former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Sanusi with some other persons identified as Geoffrey Williams, F. Onwumere, Chief Erisi Aku and Chief Oni.
Mr. Lightborne has contracted an attorney in Lagos to help apprehend the traditional ruler and recover the money allegedly collected from him by false pretence.
The solicitors working for Liberty Chambers, in a petition to the EFCC, which was signed by Chiedozie Nnaji Esq., named Igwe Godwin Madu as the principal actor in the crime and urged the commission to move in and apprehend the culprit.
The traditional ruler was said to have been enthroned on December 31, 2004 as the Mbaogu II of Mbaogu kingdom in Achi, Oji-River local government area of Enugu State.
It was gathered that though, the Enugu State government had failed to accord him recognition by not providing him with a staff of office, the traditional ruler had gone ahead to prepare for his coronation.
Daily Sun learnt that when the operatives of the EFCC stormed Enugu to seize him, he abandoned his palace and his kingdom and took refuge in a three star hotel in the city, where he was eventually smoked out and arrested on March 7.
However, shortly after his arrest, it was gathered that a very senior police officer intervened, prompting his release on bail on March 10.
According to the President of New Citizens Forum, Mr. Frank Ezeona who spoke to Daily Sun, "Igwe Godwin Madu when he knew the game was up decided to hide away from his palace and ran to the town in a bid to escape the EFCC operatives who initially mistook and shot an Enugu-based businessman thinking he was Igwe Madu.
"When the EFCC stormed the hotel, they nearly killed an innocent guest during a sporadic shooting to fish out Madu who later was caught hiding in the toilet of his suite at the hotel."
Meanwhile, the Liberty Chambers, solicitors to the 419 victim, Mr. Ishmael Lightborne, has indicated its commitment to pursue the case to its logical conclusion until justice was done while commending the EFCC for its efforts to rid Nigeria of economic and financial crimes, which it maintained "has continued to dent the image of Nigeria and Nigerians." Confirming the story, an EFCC top shot said Igwe Madu after his arrest was taken to his palace where the operatives conducted a search and found some incriminating correspondence between him and some foreign nationals including the American.
The source, however, denied that a top police officer secured Madu's release, stressing that he was not aware of the shooting of the "innocent businessman."
When contacted on phone, Madu shouted at Daily Sun: "if you have your story why do you have to call me, go ahead with what you have." He then cut off the line.