The Ekiti State Amotekun Corps detained a man named Celestine with counterfeited new N1,000 notes worth approximately N250,000.
Celestine, who claimed to be an Anambra State-born Lagos businessman, claimed he was on his way from Lagos to Isanlu in Kogi State to buy kolanut and bitter kola when he was apprehended with the counterfeit new naira notes.
The suspect, who was displayed with the money at the Amotekun State headquarters in Ado Ekiti, characterized himself as a victim of circumstances, stating, “I collected the bogus new naira notes from a customer in Lagos State without understanding that they were not genuine.”
I tried to contact him after my arrest to request my release; I am still waiting to hear from him.
Amotekun State Commander, Brig. Gen. Joe Komolafe (retd), said the suspect was apprehended at Omuo Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government area of Ekiti State by the men of the corps after he had spent some quantities of the counterfeit new N1,000 notes in a local market in the area.
Komolafe said,
“Amotekun operatives were alerted by some Point of Sale operators on discovery of the fake new naira notes in the area. On receipt of the information, our men swung into action and arrested the suspect with large quantities of the fake naira notes.
“Our men were reliably informed that the suspect came into the community with about N250,000 fake new N1,000 notes. He is currently undergoing interrogations at our office here. He will be handed over to the police for further probe and prosecution on completion of our investigation on the matter,” Komolafe said.
The Amotekun commander, however, cautioned members of the public to “beware of the activities of unscrupulous persons who may want to use the opportunity of the scarcity of cash in the country to dupe members of the public with fake new naira notes.”
Good for him
Na waho