The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested four individuals for allegedly running forgery and impersonation ring led by a man posing as a member of the House of Representatives.
The suspects, identified as Hassan Sani Jikan Mallam, Obeten John, Abubakar Mohammed, and Lucky Ndirika Emenike, were apprehended on the orders of the NSCDC Commandant General, Professor Ahmed Audi, following intelligence reports of their fraudulent activities.
According to a statement by the NSCDC spokesperson, Afolabi Babawale, the syndicate was caught attempting to gain access to the office of the Commandant General under the guise of being lawmakers.
Preliminary investigations by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) revealed that Jikan Mallam had been impersonating a federal legislator representing Katsina Central, using forged official letterheads and complimentary cards bearing the title “Hon. Hassan Sani Jikan Mallam, Member, House of Representatives.”
The Head of the CG’s SIS, Commandant A.S. Dandaura, confirmed that the suspects had confessed to the crime.
Further findings showed that Jikan Mallam had rented a Prado Jeep and hired a police officer, identified as Inalegwu Ameh, to act as his security aide.
The group allegedly visited several ministries and embassies, including the Spanish Embassy, where they sought to secure visas for multiple applicants while posing as National Assembly officials.
Recovered from the suspects were fake National Assembly documents, forged letters addressed to embassies and government agencies, and counterfeit complimentary cards used to deceive unsuspecting victims.
The NSCDC vowed to prosecute the suspects to the fullest extent of the law and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.