A 34-year old Pascal Udeh, who claimed to be a 300-level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State studying History and International Relations has been arrested trying to board a flight to China with 108 Automated Teller Machine debit cards.
Pascal was arrested by the officers of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while he was attempting to board a Qatar Airline flight to China.
According to the NDLEA Commander at the Lagos airport, Ahmadu Garba the debit cards were made up of 58 of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB); 23 OF THE Stanbic IBTC; 19 of the Zenith Bank; six of Fidelity Bank and two of Diamond Bank.
He said that the suspect was arrested in connection with suspected money laundering and was immediately transferred to the Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate of the Agency for investigation.
Victoria Egbase, the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, said the Agency had established a prima facie case of financial crime against the suspect and that the Chairman had ordered the transfer of the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation.
The NDLEA quoted the suspect as saying that he was asked to take the cards to China, saying: “I am not the owner of the cards. I was told to take them to China and that somebody will collect them from me when I get there. I have a shop where I sell clothes at Onitsha main market.
“I am also a 300-level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State studying History and International Relations. I never knew it would lead to my arrest.”
NDLEA said that the suspect hails from Obibi in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo even as the NDLEA Chairman, Ahmadu Giade said that the case should be transferred to the EFCC.
“This is a suspected money laundering case involving cash transfer with debit cards. The EFCC will carry out further investigation on the case. We must continue to work together as a united force against criminal syndicates.” [myad]
