This Day
Eight suspects are presently in the police net at the Edo State Police Command for alleged attempt to defraud the federal government to the tune of $2 billion.
The suspects, according to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Benin City, adding that the arrest was sequel to a complaint received by a crack team of the command on April 25, via a petition from one High Chief Richard David, a representative of Okpella community, in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state.
Nwabuzor explained that the suspects had on July 14, 2021, appeared before the complainant and his kinsmen and told them, that they had secured an approval from the Federal Government, through the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), to evacuate scrap bore-hole pipes equipment worth $2 billion.
“The said equipment was meant for the Okpella water project by the federal government under the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).
“The community people who were apprehensive wisely disallowed the evacuation of the items.
“This action by the Okpella people, however, prompted one of the suspects to go to the Okpella Police Station to report that the community refused them evacuating the items…
