Posted by From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor on
A national honour recipient, Dr. Albert Ikomi, is being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly obtaining over N700 million under false pretence.
A national honour recipient, Dr. Albert Ikomi, is being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly obtaining over N700 million under false pretence.
Ikomi, who claimed to have been decorated with Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR) by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2004, was said to have collected millions of naira from over 200 subscribers for a housing scheme.
He was said to have claimed in advertorials in newspapers in 2004 that he was the managing director of Model Satellite Town Development Company, purporting to be developing a housing estate at Atan, Idiroko, Ogun State.
He also claimed that he was executing the project on behalf of the Federal Government and called on both investors and contractors to indicate their interest.
A statement by EFCC's spokesman, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said Ikomi started dropping the names of people in power, such as Obasanjo and the then Minister of Housing, Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo.
The over 200 contractors and developers who indicated their interest in the housing scheme were said to have contributed about N600 million.
Ikomi was said to have become incommunicado after collecting the money, prompting one of the victims, the Managing Director of Elanda Sea Limited, Mr. Darcy Nomba, to petition the EFCC.
He alleged that he was defrauded of over N45 million.
Ikomi was said to have confessed that he collected the money but that the business collapsed due to the removal of Mrs. Osomo.
The EFCC said Ikomi appealed to the victims to be patient as N600million had been earmarked as refund for contractors.
The EFCC is also investigating Ikomi on a fresh case of obtaining over N100 million from another victim.