EFCC Uncovers How Prison’s Officials Aid Jailed Fraudster’s Criminal Activities, Buy Properties From Prison

Operatives of the Lagos Office of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered how officials of the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons allegedly aided a convicted fraudster, Hope Olusegun Aroke  to continue his fraudulently activities from prison.

According to an operative of the EFCC, who does not want his name mentioned, Aroke, who was sentenced to twenty-four years behind bars and prison authorities conspired to pervert the course of justice.

The convict, who operate with alias ‘H’ Money is an internet fraudster who was investigated in 2011 on three different cases of computer related fraud and was convicted and sentenced by Justice Lateefat Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja in January 16, 2016.

The source disclosed that investigations revealed that the convict allegedly colluded with officials of the Kirikiri Maximum Prisons to get him admitted into the Nigeria Police Hospital, Falomo, Lagos for an undisclosed ailment from where he usually left for hotels to meet with his wife and two children as well as attended other social functions.

“Investigations have also established that the convict operates two bank accounts with First Bank Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc with a fictitious name, Akinkunmi Sorinmade.

“Furthermore, investigations have it that while serving his prison term, the convict bought a property at Fountain Spring Estate, Lekki, Lagos State for N22 million, a Lexus RX 350 2018 model registered in his wife’s name, Maria Jennifer Aroke and had access to internet and mobile phone devices.

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“In November 11, 2019, investigations showed that the convict made a transfer of the sum of N3.5 million with his wife’s account Guaranty Trust bank token with account number: 0161538696.

“It was also discovered that the convict bought a house for the sum of N48 million at Plot 12, Delhi Fadoju Street, Megamound Estate, Lekki County Home, Lekki Lagos while his trial was ongoing in 2015.

“Consequently, the EFCC has seized all the properties linked to the convict while serving prison term.

Confirming the allegations, the Head Of the EFCC Lagos office, Sabo Mohammed said indicted persons would be charged to court at the end of the on going investigation.

Aroje was one of two Malaysia-based Nigerian undergraduate fraudsters arrested by the EFCC in the closing weeks of 2012 at the 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos following a tip- off.

The indigene of Okene, Kogi State had claimed to be a student of Computer Science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia.

But the Commission’s investigation fingered him as the arrow head of an intricate web of internet fraud scheme that traverse two continents.

When Aroke was arrested, a search conducted by EFCC operatives on his apartment led to the recovery of several items such as laptops, iPad, traveling documents, cheque books, flash drives, internet modem, and three exotic cars – a Mercedes Benz Jeep, One 4Matic Mercedes Benz Car and a Range Rover Sport SUV.

He was eventually convicted by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos State High Court on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery.

The was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment on each of the two counts.