An inmate of the Kuje Maximum prison, Abuja, identified as Ifeanyi Ezenwa, has been accused of masterminding a multi-million naira fraud from behind bars.
The suspect who was before his arrest the head of a gang specialized in defrauding unsuspecting victims, mostly businessmen of their hard earned money using fake bank alerts was reported to have carried out the fraud through a smartphone which was smuggled into the prison.
Ifeanyi Ezenwa who has 17 different fraud cases pending in different courts is said to have defrauded the businessmen by sending fake alerts to them on Friday knowing banks do not operate on weekends.
A victim said: “When I received the alert, it had my previous balance in it and the total money was balanced. I wondered how he was able to get access into my account.”
Punch reported a police source to have said Ezenwa from behind bars accesses e-commerce websites including Jiji, OLX, JUMIA and others through the smuggled smartphone where he contacts businessmen who intend to sell their valuables especially cars.
Investigation by the police further revealed that he has collected 15 tractors in Delta, 18 Land Cruiser Prado Jeeps, Hummer buses from Elizade motors, three exotic cars from a car stand in Abuja and 8 trucks from Edo.
The suspect’s wife was reported to have been unaware of his incarceration until IRT operatives uncovered his operations.
Ezenwa’s wife when operatives of IRT stormed his Abuja residence was reported to have put up resistance adding that the policemen must have been mistaken.
She added that her husband was in Italy and calls her often with an international number.
According to a police source, Ezenwa’s wife said: “He used to send money to his wife from prison; his sister and brothers knew he was in prison, but his wife didn’t.”
Ezenwa according to report is said to have built several houses and hotels from the proceeds of his fraudulent practice.