The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has apprehended a 63-year-old man, Ernesto Chukwudum Chukwukamma, for allegedly impersonating a journalist and fraudulently obtaining N2 million from a petitioner under the pretext of influencing an investigation into a massive $4.5 billion Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) fraud.
According to the EFCC, Chukwukamma posed as a journalist affiliated with the Commission and deceitfully claimed he could suppress an ongoing investigation involving the alleged diversion of $4.5 billion during the winding down of the PTF.
The suspect reportedly threatened the petitioner, warning of potential media exposure and claiming that members of a fictitious Correspondents’ Chapel attached to the EFCC had already compiled a damaging report against him.
In exchange for halting the purported investigation and suppressing the report, Chukwukamma allegedly demanded and received the sum of N2 million.
He was arrested while attempting to withdraw the funds.
Preliminary investigations confirmed that the accused neither works with the EFCC nor is affiliated with any legitimate media organisation covering the agency.
The EFCC stated that Chukwukamma would be formally charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
