By Morakinyo Basirat (SIWES student, FUOYE)
Nuhu Haruna, claiming to be an airline captain, was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Kaduna for an alleged fraudulent transaction amounting to N1bn.
Operatives from the EFCC, Kaduna State Zonal Command, detained Nuhu Haruna following a petition filed in December 2023.
The petitioner, whose identity remains undisclosed, engaged Haruna in a foreign exchange transaction valued at N1,020,000.
However, despite the payment, the petitioner never received the dollar equivalent as promised.
Preliminary investigations revealed Haruna’s diversion of funds for personal endeavors, including property acquisitions and vehicle purchases intended for his purported airline venture, Air Unity Aviation Services.
The investigation uncovered acquisitions such as landed properties totaling N505,000, three 18-seater Toyota Hiace buses branded with the airline’s logo, and four luxury cars.
Haruna is slated to face legal proceedings once investigations are concluded, as confirmed by the EFCC.
In a separate development, former Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, spent a second night in EFCC custody over alleged N10bn misappropriation.
Ahmed voluntarily presented himself at the Ilorin zonal office of the EFCC on Monday but was detained pending further inquiry.
Meanwhile, the EFCC’s crackdown extended to Lagos State, where six individuals were arrested for involvement in currency racketeering and illicit sale of new naira notes for commercial gains, as announced by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in Abuja.
The EFCC’s proactive measures in tackling financial malfeasance underscore its commitment to combating corruption and ensuring accountability across various sectors.
