The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a man accused of posing as an EFCC operative and collecting N3 million from unsuspecting members of the public through alleged false pretences.
The suspect, identified as Nuhu Dahiru, was arrested by operatives of the commission’s Maiduguri Zonal Directorate in Tashan Bama, along Bama Road, Maiduguri, Borno State.
The EFCC said his arrest followed intelligence indicating that Dahiru had been presenting himself as an officer of the commission and using the false identity to allegedly defraud members of the public.
According to the commission, operatives recovered N3 million from the suspect at the time of his arrest. The EFCC said investigations are ongoing and Dahiru will be prosecuted after the investigation is completed.
The latest arrest highlights the continued use of fake EFCC identities by fraudsters to target members of the public. Similar cases have previously been recorded in different parts of the country, including incidents involving alleged fake employment offers and demands for money.
In 2024, police in Niger State arrested suspects accused of posing as EFCC officials during an alleged abduction involving two students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. Police said the suspects carried fake EFCC identity cards and allegedly demanded money from their victims.
Another case was reported in Lagos in 2019, when a 29-year-old man was arrested for allegedly impersonating an EFCC operative and collecting money from a man after promising to secure an EFCC job for his son. A suspected fake EFCC official was also arrested in Adamawa after allegedly approaching a state lawmaker with a fake commission identity card.
The EFCC has repeatedly warned Nigerians to be cautious of individuals claiming to represent the commission, especially those demanding money or promising jobs and other favours. The commission urged members of the public to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be an EFCC official before responding to such demands.
