The department of State security has arrested a 40 years old man, Prince Mohammed, for dropping the name of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, in a bid to defraud an unsuspecting Nigerian of the sum of $50,000.
The suspect was arrested in a sting operation by the DSS as he was about collecting the money from his potential victim.
The Public Relations Officer of the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, who paraded the suspect at the DSS headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, described Momoh as the ring leader of a syndicate, who specialize in dropping the names of senior Government officials in order to extort unsuspecting Nigerians for juicy positions in and outside the Government.
The DSS Spokesman said, Momoh, who once worked as an aide to a Presidency official, presented himself as an aide to the Chief Of Staff and demanded the sum of $50,000 from Benson Aniego with a promise to get him to be appointed as Buhari’s Special Assistant on Oil and Gas.
Afunaya said that Momoh has been running the syndicate with 3 other persons, Monday, Michael, and Ifeanyi, who are still at large, told the potential victim that 35,000$ will go to the chief of staff, while the remaining money will be used to facilitate the job process.
The DSS spokesman said that the victim suspected foul play and called the service, asking for clarification on the suppose position, however, the spokesman said that, he was advised to play along.
Momoh was then arrested as he went to collect the money from his victim.
The spokesman, while addressing the press said,”we want to alert the public that the syndicate has no connection whatsoever with the Chief of Staff to the President or any other official of the government at any level.”
Afunaya said the suspect would be charged to court, while the DSS will make sure that they apprehend the other 3 men, who are still at large.
