Fake Catholic priest arrested for alleged N14m fraud in Onitsha

FOR allegedly defrauding people of over N14 million in Nnewi, Onitsha and environs, a man, who posed as a Catholic priest has been arrested.

The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Obinna from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, met his waterloo after he presented a fake N250, 000 cheque to a trader at Onitsha for tyres.

The unidentified trader raised the alarm following the information on Sunday about a fake Catholic cleric on the prowl. It was circulated that the priest was defrauding unsuspecting Catholics of their money.

A victim said the fake cleric ran out of luck, when he, in a new white colour Toyota Hilux utility vehicle and wearing a white cassock, went to Onitsha to buy tyres for which he issued the cheque.

The trader raised the alarm after receiving the Ecobank cheque, attracting others, who apprehended the ‘priest’.

He was taken to the All Saints Church in Onitsha for identification, but was found to be a fake priest.

Before his arrest, Obinna was said to have duped 14 people. Those he defrauded descended on him before Governor Peter Obi, who was passing by, allegedly intervened and handed him over to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Nassarawa for further investigations, an eyewitness account said.

The ‘priest’ Nwaneli had allegedly admitted the accusations against him, alleging the was pushed into crime by unemployment.

A police source confirmed the arrest but said they had not got the detailed report of the incident as at last night.

source:  The Nation