In another development, the EFCC has arrested a Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Ismaila Atumeyi with N326m and $140,500 cash.
Atumeyi, who is seeking to represent Ankpa 11 Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly, was arrested on Sunday alongside one Joshua Dominic, an alleged serial fraudster, in a sting operation at Macedonia Street, Queens Estate, Karsana, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
Also arrested in connection with the fraud is a former bank employee, Abdumalik Femi, who allegedly supplied the inside information that facilitated the attack on the bank by the syndicate.
The EFCC spokesperson confirmed that Femi was picked up Tuesday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Lagos.
“Following his arrest, a search was conducted on his home in Morgan Estate, Ojodu where a total of $470,000 was recovered.
“The arrest of the suspects followed months of investigation into the hacking of one of the commercial banks by a syndicate of fraudsters who pulled off a heist of N1.4bn,’’ he explained.
The syndicate allegedly moved N887m into the account of Fav Oil and Gas Ltd., from where the monies were paid to several Bureau de Change operators and some auto dealers for exchange into dollars and purchase of high-end cars.
Dominic, who has severally been arrested for fraud, allegedly helped Atumeyi in perfecting the hacking plan through Femi.
Dominic, a self-styled investment expert and managing director of Brisk Capital Limited was arrested in May 2021 by the police Special Fraud Unit for an alleged N2bn investment scam.
He allegedly defrauded over 500 persons in a phoney investment scheme.
Two Range Rover SUVs were also recovered from the two suspects arrested in Abuja.
Uwujaren noted that the suspects will be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.