Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has declared a University of Lagos (UNILAG) student, Eric Idowu wanted over fraudulent activities with fake credit cards.
Famzn News gathered from PUNCH Metro that the student is being accused of defrauding a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Azee Bakare of phones valued at N1Million, which he purchased with a fake credit alert.
It was learnt that the student used the name of one Leonard Adegoke, to place his orders from Bakare.
Bakare said, “Apart from being a corps member, I run a mobile phone business. On Thursday, August 2, around 4.30pm, I received a call from a customer, who identified himself as Leonard Adeleke. He ordered for three used iPhone 8 Plus and one brand new iPhone X. The address he gave me was no 20, University Road, Abule-Oja, Yaba, Lagos. I went there to deliver the goods around 7pm the same day.
“When I got there, I followed him to the front of his room where he checked the phones to see if they were working perfectly. After he was convinced, he collected the phones and asked for my account number, which I provided. A minute later, he showed me a debit alert on his phone and said the money had been transferred into my account.
“Both of us waited for me to receive the alert on my phone. While waiting, he said he wanted to go downstairs to turn on his generator. That was the last time I saw him as he ran away. When I searched around and could not find him. I called his telephone number, but it was switched off.”
The Youth Corps member said one Adeleke Adegoke who lived in the same house with the accused has been arrested, adding that he had reported the incident to officials at the Sabo Police Station.
He continued, “Later, I used the True Caller app on my phone to dial the number Leonard Adegoke used in placing his order. The app revealed his picture and real name as Eric Idowu.
“I showed Adeleke, who recognised Idowu from the picture. Adeleke said Idowu used to stay with the landlord’s son but had disappeared.”
He said the police found out that Eric was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos after Adeleke called the landlord’s son at the station.
Bakare added, “I also went to the Computer Village in Ikeja to meet with officials of the phone company because they had reported the case to SARS. I later wrote that the case should be transferred from the Sabo Police Station to SARS.
“I have informed my parents about this case. Till now, I have not paid for the phones, which I got on credit from a phone company, CSE Phones. I want the police to help me get Idowu. I want my goods back or my money and the extra cost I have spent to recover them.”
One of the officials at CSE Phones, Chris Amaru, said his boss, Chuks Mba had ordered him to petition SARS for quick action regarding the matter.
He said: “Bakare is a known person to the company because we do give him goods on credit and after sales, he gives us the money.
“So when the incident happened, Mr Mba assigned me to report the case at SARS office in Ikeja.”
Meanwhile, Taiwo Oloyede, the spokesperson of University of Lagos, has confirmed that he is a student but with conflicting records.
She said, “We have checked, but you have to get the matriculation number of that person because the Idowu that we are seeing has a different course, different level, in that same faculty. But no two students can have a matriculation number that is the same. If you have a picture, send it to me.”
Oloyede has been contacted but she is yet to respond.
Lagos State Police Public Relation Officer, CSP Chike Oti said the police is working frantically to arrest the suspect.
He said, “The case is under investigation; we are making efforts to arrest the boy who defrauded the NYSC member. It is sad that somebody will do something of such to a young man who was trying to be self-reliant.
“The Commissioner of Police has ordered SARS to ensure the arrest of the perpetrator of this crime to serve as a deterrent to others.”