From Nweke Nweke, Onitsha
Onitsha based business mogul, Mr. Benedict Charian Ofiapul has accused a Nigerian, based in United States of America, Mr. Emeka Umeano of having duped him to over $19,500 on the pretense of sending him a Toyota Highlander jeep of 2010 model, the business transaction said to have turned into fraud.
Accusing one Blessing Jaja Victor with 14 Esam Obasi Street Calabar, Cross River State as his address of abetting the alleged crime allegedly committed in far away United States of America, the victim said Jaja Victor who claimed to be importer/ trader has today posed as the consignee of the vehicle he has paid for.
The deal which took place last year was allegedly done through bank draft as Mr. Ofiapul said he paid into the account of the man accused to have duped thousands of unsuspecting Nigerians through account number, 898054698023, swift code Bofaus3n, Routing number 026009593, account name: Emeka Umeano while the bank used in the said deal is Bank of America, according to source.
It was also gathered that of the total cost of the Toyota Highlander jeep of 2010 model was $18,000 including the vehicle’s insurance and flirt. Perfecting the dirty deals, the suspected criminal later demanded another $1, 5000, which according to him was for the total security of the jeep while in Waft.
Having waited for so long after paying the whopping sum without seeing the pleasure car, the Nneobi born business tycoon suspected that something was wrong and he began a move to right the wrongs by putting up machineries to report the matter to Interpol, possibly for the repatriation of the man suspected to be fraudster.
Suspecting that the business mogul might be nursing negative intention over the deal, Umeano and his cohorts, it was learnt sent in a text massage stating “not that am in hurry, just cool down and get motor that will introduce you well in Nigeria markets” The text massage stated.
Still been persistent to either get his cash or the car as agreed by both parties, Mr. Benedict Charian Ofiapul sent provoking text massage to the man behind the alleged dupe and in reply to the said provoking text massage, Emeka replied thus: “Good news, I bought your car now, I will finish the payment on Monday, it is sliver colour, leather seat with TV. I will call you on Tuesday please. This massage got the businessman at about 08.13 hours on the 22nd day of December, 2013” 247ureports learnt.
But breaching the earlier assurance that nothing will be loaded in the Toyota Highlander jeep 2010 model on its route to Nigeria, Mr. Ofiapul said on the arrival of the already damaged Toyota Highlander, two big engines were loaded in it, which was against the $1, 5000 he claimed to have paid for safe landing of the car into Nigeria Waft.
However, on the landing of the controversial Toyota Highlander jeep 2010 model into Lagos State Waft, due to the pressure of the man that has paid heavily for it, one Adneiyi Musili Oredola with account no 0010257905 demanded for (#700,000) seven hundred thousand Naira on 14/03/2014 as the agent fee and the said sum was allegedly remitted to him through Diamond Bank Funds transfer with form No. 3084764.
But the camel’s back was broken when the victim of the suspected criminals got the Waft to claim the car; he said he noticed the two big engines. He said he was shocked to his marrow on the ground that someone else was laying claim on both the Toyota Highlander and the engines; this according to him compelled him to report the matter to Roro Police Division for investigation.
“Yes, I reported the matter to the police for the fact that in all the documents made available to me, none of it bears my name and there is no way I will pay such huge sum of money and my name will not be written in any of the documents. I want the law to take its cause in this matter, it is swindling on the highest order” Mr. Ofiapul stated.
Stating that Jaja Victor made him to go to the police, Mr. Ofiapul submitted the text sent to him by Jaja whom he said he never had business transaction at any time with and the text read thus; “the best I can do for you is that you better call the police, right. Return the car to the agent with the engine. Give us two months and I will send you another Highlander jeep 2010 model or if it is case you want, that will be given to you as well. You should give Emeka enough time, I am just trying to help for you didn’t have any dealings with me” the text stated.
Efforts made to reach any of the accusers, the DPO Roro Police Division for comment proved abortive but the Investigation Police Officer, IPO when contacted on his GSM line was more furious over how 247ureports got his number even as he declined comment on the matter he is investigating.
This online will keep you posted as events on this unfold, keep a date with us.
