The Anambra State Government, along with security forces, has detained eight people for reportedly cheating women in Awka out of more than N800,000. They were working with the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.
Chidimma Ikeanyionwu, the Media Aide to the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, announced this on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, directed the arrest of a non-governmental organization using the government's name to extort N20,000 or more from unsuspecting women in Awka.
When the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare raided the office of the Host Communities of Nigeria in Awka, it was discovered that the suspects, in collaboration with a bank employee, were forcing women to pay N20,000 to open a current account and purchase an association's form.
It was also found that the suspects had appointed local government coordinators to handle cash registrations, while the bank staff were responsible for opening accounts at the office complex.
The statement revealed that when the leader of the association, Mrs Nneka Igboka, was questioned about extorting money from innocent people, she initially claimed to be following the instructions of the suspended Humanitarian Minister, Beta Edu, and later stated that it was the minister's SSA who authorized the project.
In addition, Mrs Igboka mentioned that the operation was none of the Commissioner for Oil, Gas, and Industry's concern when asked.
During the questioning, the ministry's staff recovered N146,500 in cash, filled and unfilled forms, and a smartphone which was given to the police.
Some of the women who spoke to journalists, including Maryann Obikwe from Ọgbaru LGA and Nneka from Oyi LGA, stated that they had borrowed the money for registration and account opening, believing that it would help them secure cooking jobs in schools.
Anonymous women also claimed that the suspects and their team promised them access to oil money and school feeding jobs.
At present, the eight suspects and the recovered items have been handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Awka for further investigation, and the case will be taken to court.
Obinabo has directed the victims of the fraud to come to the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Center in Awka tomorrow morning to begin the refund process.
Obinabo, who talked to the victims, said that the Soludo-led government will never take money from anyone in exchange for jobs and advised the public to always be cautious to avoid being tricked by fraudsters.
She also promised the victims that the state government would continue working until they were fully reimbursed, saying that the ministry had already begun the refund process.
