Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted one hundred and seven (107) Citi Bank credit cards. The automated teller machine cards were detected inside a luggage during the outward screening of Turkish Airline passengers to Istanbul, Turkey at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. A 36 year-old man with dual identity has been apprehended in connection with the discovered cards.
NDLEA Airport commander, Mr Hamza Umar said that the suspect had two international passports bearing his photographs but with different names. “He had a Nigerian passport with the name Funsho Oladimeji Babatunde and a Turkish passport with the name Kosar Kursat both bearing his photographs. The cards found in his luggage are 68 Citi Interswitch Master cards and 39 Citi Interswitch Visa cards” Hamza stated.
The suspect who is a native of Iwo town in Kwara State lives in Surulere Lagos. The Ordinary National Diploma (OND) graduate at the Kwara Polytechnic said told investigators that he was taking the cards to a friend in Turkey. “My friend in Turkey called me that I should help in sending the cards to him in Istanbul, Turkey. When I collected the cards in Lagos, I kept them in my bag but during search, the officer saw the cards and took me for interrogation. I am an OND graduate of Economic at the Kwara Polytechnic” he stated.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade had directed that the suspect be transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation. According to Giade, “preliminary investigation suggests that the suspect had unlawful possession of 107 credit cards. The financial instruments are believed to be used for fraudulent purposes since he is not an authorised agent” Giade stated.
The NDLEA boss promised to prevent any act capable of bringing the image of the country to disrepute.
