A graduate of Political Science, Jehu Kwasu, has narrated how he
impersonated the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop
Matthew Kukah and defrauded prominent Nigerians of millions of
naira.
Kwasu said his victims included Bishop David Oyedepo of Living
Faith Church Worldwide, who he claimed gave him N500,000;
the Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, N1m; Admiral
Ndubuisi Kanu, N500,000; businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata,
N2m.
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He allegedly collected the sums for Internally Displaced
Persons.
He said, “I collected N500,000 from Otudeko, CEO,
Honeywell: From Admiral Kanu, I got N500,000. I also
got N500,000 from Bishop Oyedepo and N2m from
Dantata. I also got money from Gen. Wushishi and
others.
“I opened a Guaranty Trust Bank account in Bishop
Kukah’s name. I registered a SIM card in my name, but
used Bishop Kukah’s picture on my True Caller account,
so that when I call, his picture would appear (on the
recipient’s phone.)”
Kwasu, who is serving a two-month sentence in the
Keffi Prison, admitted on Friday in Abuja that he realised
over N5.7m.
Police sources said only N1.7m was found in his bank
account, adding that the suspect spent most of the
money he made on girls and hard drugs.
It was gathered that Kwasu, the son of late Anglican
Bishop, James Kwasu, also exploited his father’s name,
to extort money from the Katsina State Governor,
Aminu Masari, when the latter was the Speaker, House
of Representatives.
The 25-year old explained that he defrauded his victims
by soliciting money on phone to cater to IDPs in the
country.
The cleric’s son stated that he obtained a passport with
the name, Mathew Hassah Kukah Jehu, and also opened
an account with the GTB in the same name.
He said, “I called people on the telephone and told them
I was Bishop Kukah. I used his picture on my True
Caller account, so that when I called people, they would
think he was the one talking with them.
“I also obtained a passport in Bishop Kukah’s name
which I used to open an account with GTB. The money
I realised was paid into the account and I used an
Automated Teller Machine card to withdraw it.”
PUNCH Metro gathered that Kukah was alerted to the
scam by some people close to him.
The cleric was said to have petitioned the police, which
asked the bank to place a “no debit order” on the
account.
Following his inability to withdraw from the account,
Kwasu was said to have visited the bank to complain,
where he was arrested.
Findings indicate that Kwasu had earlier been arrested
and remanded in prison for impersonating Bishop
Steven Akobe of the Anglican Diocese of Kabba, Kogi
State, but was granted bail.
The police said Kwasu had also attempted to extort
money from Senator David Mark, claiming to be Akobe.
“Mark said I should come for some money, so I sent
my girlfriend. But she was arrested and I was taken to
court and sentenced to two months imprisonment or
N9,000 fine,” Kwasu stated.
It was gathered that the suspect, who had two female
siblings, sold his deceased parents’ house in Kaduna for
N10m and lavished the money on girls and a profligate
lifestyle.
The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police,
Muhammad Mustafa, stated that Kwasu was arrested by
the men of his command, after Kukah complained
about his activities.
The CP said, “We received a petition from Bishop Kukah
alleging that the boy had been impersonating him and
extorting money from prominent people. So, my men
went to work and were able to track the suspect and
arrest him. He is a habitual criminal and I would like to
advise the public against responding to emails or phone
calls from unknown persons requesting financial
support for one cause or the other.”
Mustafa also called on the public to report every
suspicious phone call and email to the police for
investigation.
Source; PUNCH.
