Police nab Cameroonian businessman over alleged N26.7m fraud

The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Lagos Annex, has arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Mr. Langwa Brezhnev, for allegedly obtaining goods under false pretences and committing N26.7 million in fraud.

The department’s spokesperson, SP Oluniyi Ogundeyi, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday in Lagos.

Ogundeyi said that the suspect was charged in court on Monday and remanded at the Ikoyi custodial facility.

The spokesperson said that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the FCID, Mr. Yahaya Abubakar, received a petition against the suspect and assigned an officer to investigate the case on merit.

“The suspect diverted two trucks of fertiliser,” he alleged.

Ogundeyi said that the police had secured a warrant for his detention from the court with a view to conducting a discreet investigation into the case.

According to him, the magistrate directed the police to ensure that they would conclude discussions with Interpol within three days to enable them to go to Cameroon for investigation.

“The suspect was, however, charged to court on Monday for obtaining goods by false pretences and fraud to the tune of N26.7 million,” he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson has described as false an accusation by the suspect’s counsel, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, that his client had been unlawfully detained.

He noted that the counsel petitioned the inspector general of police, accusing the FCID of unlawful detention.

Also reacting to the petition, the Force spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, denied that DIG Frank Mba used his position to influence the case in question, as also alleged in the petition by Effiong.

Effiong had accused DIG Frank Mba of using his position to influence ‘a civil case’ to favour the complainant, Mr. Hilary Mba, to the detriment of his client.

According to Adejobi, the accusations against Effiong were false.

Adejobi advised the lawyer to direct his efforts to the court of law where the case was filed.

He said that DIG Frank Mba was not related to the complainant, Mr. Hilary Mba.

Adejobi said that investigations of Brezhnev by the FCID were in line with police investigative procedure.

“To set the record straight, the Force CID, Lagos Annex, in May 2023, received a petition entitled, “Complaint Against Mr. Langwa Brezhnev” over the obtainment of goods by false pretences and fraud in respect of the sale of fertilisers.

“Investigations so far by the police have, however, clearly established a prima facie case against the suspect,” he said.