EFCC arrests Instagram comedian Chidera, 34 others for alleged fraud involvement

The operatives of the Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested an Instagram comedian and social media Influencer, Nwagbo Oliver Chidera, also known as Pankeeroy, alongside 34 others for alleged involvement in computer-related fraud in Lagos.

The commission’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said on Thursday that the arrested persons are: Chinedu Omesu Christian; Gafar Kunle Adedamola; Chuka AnieboRichard; Nwagbo Chidera Oliver; Dibo Ayomide Samson; Rotimi Segun Damilola; Habeeb Banire Damilola; Afolabi Bolutife Michael; Adekanbi Elijah Adeola; Emeka Christian Egwuatu; Adeyemi Adedamola  Olumide; Awokoya Moyosore Iyaniwura; Efunnuga Dmilola Samuel; Samson Makinde Egwuatu; Gbemileke Jide Simeon; Omoyemi Fashola Owolabi, and Farouk Ibiwoye Olatunde.

Other are Orapitan Yomi Segun; Oladunjoye Taiwo Olawale; Ibrahim Ajani Olanrewaju; Wasiu Olamilekan Sola; Olamiposi Toheeb Damilola; Isieq Qudus Olamilekan; Abel Ndubuisi Junior; Emmanuel Nonso Martins; Timilehin Oladipo Jesse; Kelvin Okpere Kendal; Omotola Oluwatobi Emmanuel; Rasaq Toyosi Farouq; Oyelere Olawale Shakiru; Timileyin Odeyemi Damilare; Kelly John Nwanou; Adedeji Emmanuel Olayinka; Balogun Subomi Ibrahim, and Makinde Adewale Benjamin.

According to Uwujaren, all the suspects were arrested on Wednesday, April 21, 2021 at their hideout in James Court, Lekki, Lagos, following verified intelligence received by the commission regarding their alleged criminal activities.

Until his arrest, Chidera, EFCC said, claimed to have gone into Bitcom scam after he suffered depression, and had been presenting himself as a vendor who redeems bitcoin vouchers using the bitcoincoretrading.com platform to defraud his unsuspecting victims.

Uwujaren stated that investigations by the operatives showed that one of the suspects, Christian, allegedly defrauded an aged Asian-American lady of over $475,000.

In his statement to the Commission, Christian confessed to have been posing as one Dave Federick, a 58-year-old United States national on a mission in Syria to lure his unsuspecting victims and defraud them of their hard-earned money.

He said, upon his arrest, a Mercedes Benz AMG GLE model worth N36,000,000 was recovered from him.

Uwujaren added that investigations also revealed that the suspect has N22,300,000 worth of Bitcoin in his blocked chain account.

Items recovered from the suspects include exotic cars, Iphones, laptop computers, Android devices and Macbook devices.

Uwujaren said all the suspects will soon be charged for their alleged involvement in Internet fraud.