By Chidinma Ikeanyionwu
Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, has arrested eight suspects for allegedly extorting more than Eight Hundred Thousand Naira from women in Awka.
The arrest was part of state government's resolve in eradicating crimes and corruption in the state.
The exercise came following the directive of the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo of an NGO using government's name to extort the sum of twenty thousand naira and above from unsuspecting individuals mostly women in Awka.
When the Women and Social Welfare Commissioner bursted the office complex of the Host Communities of Nigeria Anambra State Chapter located opposite government house Awka, it was discovered that the suspects were operating with the United Bank of Africa staff in opening a current account for the women who must pay the sum of 10,000 thousand naira in cash and purchase the associations form with another 10,000 thousand naira making it 20,000 for one individual.
It was also discovered that these suspects had earlier recruited local government co-ordinators in all the 21 local government areas of the state who they made in charge of the registration done in cash while the bank staff were charge of opening accounts at the office complex.
While questioning the leader of the association Mrs Nneka Joy Igboka on why she's extorting innocent people of their hard earned money, the suspect said she's carrying out the directive of the suspended Humanitarian Minister, Beta Edu before later stating that it was the minister's SSA that gave her the go ahead order to execute the project and at the same time said, that it was the ministry of Oil and Gas and Industry that directed her to carry out the task.
When asked if the Commissioner for Oil, Gas, and Industry is aware of the operation, Mrs Igboka stated that she can not inform the commissioner because it is not his/her business.
While the questioning was ongoing, the ministry's staff were able to recover the sum of 146,500 thousand naira being the money made from registration of a local government, some forms which had been filled and others yet to be filled, and a smart phone which was handed over to the police.
Some of the women who spoke to newsmen, Maryann Obikwe from Ọgbaru and Nneka from Oyi all noted that they borrowed the money they used for the registration and account opening claiming that they were told that the process is to help secure cooking jobs for them in schools while some others who spoke under anonymity claimed that the suspect and her team assured them of oil money and school feeding jobs as well.
As at the time of this report, eight suspects including the bankers met opening accounts for people at the said office complex and the items recovered has been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department Awka for further investigation while the matter will be charged to court.
In another development, the Women and social welfare boss has instructed that those who defrauded by the Host Communities of Nigeria should come to Prof Dora Akunyili Women Development Center Awka tomorrow morning to start the process of refund.
Hon Obinabo who spoke to the people stated that the Soludo led APGA government will never collect money from anyone to give them jobs and urged members of the public to always be vigilant to avoid falling into the hands of scammers.
Hon Obinabo further assured them that the state government will not relent until they are fully refunded, stating that the ministry has already started the process of the refund.
More photos below.
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