At a recent press conference held by the Amotekun Corps in the state, a shocking development came to light. A woman named Ako, who hails from Benue State, was arrested for using counterfeit currency in business transactions. After her arrest, Ako confessed to the allegations levelled against her, explaining that financial difficulties pushed her to commit the disturbing crime.
The Commander of the Amotekun Corps, Dr. Adekunle Omoyele, said Ako was apprehended at Sabo Market. During investigation, she admitted to purchasing goods with counterfeit notes, citing her dire financial situation. Ako revealed that she was introduced to the scheme by a former roommate, Mrs. Elizabeth.
After her husband left, Ako explained that Elizabeth, who had relocated to Abuja, contacted her to discuss the use of counterfeit currency. The latter would send her counterfeit Nigerian notes through a delivery service.
For every N100,000 in counterfeit currency that Ako received, she would have to repay N50,000 in real money from her sales, creating a cycle of deceptive profiteering. In addition to Ako, the Amotekun Corps also presented other suspects at the press conference. Among them, 19-year-old Adegboye Glory was arrested for burglary and theft of food items.
Similarly, 50-year-old Najeemden Adeyemi was apprehended for attempted kidnapping and robbery, using a fake Facebook account to lure his victims to isolated locations.
The case raises questions about the financial pressures that push individuals to commit wrongdoing. It highlights the vulnerability of many people in difficult economic situations. Hopefully, these arrests will serve as a lesson and encourage the authorities to step up the fight against economic crime.
It is important to stress that the use of counterfeit notes is a serious crime that not only harms the economy, but also has a negative impact on reputation and trust in the financial system. By raising public awareness of these issues and strengthening security measures, we can help prevent such wrongdoing and protect our communities from financial crime.