Impostor Posing as ‘Inspector of Customs’ Arrested in Abuja
By Muhammad Bashir
The Nigeria Customs Service has paraded one Iliya Yabo, a middle-aged man for impersonation as Inspector of Customs and engaging in fraudulent activities inimical to the service and to the entire nation.
Parading the suspect on Tuesday 4th July, 2023, at the headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Public Relations Officer of the service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada said
Iliya Yabo has defrauded scores of people of their hard-earned money.
According to the spokesman of the service, Yabo was not employed by the Service but noted that he was arrested following a petition written to the Comptroller General Customs on the 7th of March, 2022 by one of his victims, Mr. Kletus accusing the suspect of defrauding him to the tune of two million of naira.
“Preliminary investigation had it that the suspect has, in 2022, assumed the character of an Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service and obtained the sum of N2,000,000.00 from one Mr Clement Jacob, N1,000,000 from Chima Kletus and N1,200,000 from one Aminu Shu’aibu,” Maiwada said.
He said that the suspect had, in the same year, swindled one Emmanuel Akor, the sum of N1,000,000 and also collected N1,400.000 from one Haruna Mustapha “and finally collected the sum of N750,000 from Musa Ishaku Sakanto all to purchase seized vehicles auctioned by the Nigeria Customs Service.” He added.
The Customs Public Relations Officer expressed dismay over the ruthless act of the suspect against patriotic citizens who strive to earn their legitimate income, saying that the suspect has also gone far to sew himself a fake service uniform, obtain a fake service number and a Ceremonial Uniform of the Service, which he used to attend functions and further deceive innocent people.
According to the spokesman of the service, Illiya Yabo will be charged in court after investigation. He further advises the citizens to be vigilant as millions of Illiya Yabo are out there but promises that the service will do all within its constitutional powers to get rid of the society of fraudsters.
