By Deborah Akpede
Operatives of the Police Command in Lagos State have apprehended a 37-year-old man over the alleged fraud involving gold valued at N15.4 million.
It was gathered that the suspect was being investigated for alleged obtaining by false pretence and stealing.
Following the report, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani, directed that the case be transferred from the Sabo Police Division to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further investigation.
The investigation into the allegations is being handled by the Swift Enquiry Team of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.
According to a police source, the complainant reported that the suspect approached him on July 14 to purchase gold worth N15.4millon and promised to transfer the payment after taking delivery of the items.
"The suspect after collecting the gold became unreachable.
"When the suspect was later traced, he pleaded for another consignment of gold valued at N6 million and promised to pay the outstanding balance of about N9 million.
"The suspect failed to honour the promise and instead used a similar method to obtain gold from other unsuspecting dealers, " he said.
The source said efforts were ongoing to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud, identify other possible victims.
According to him, the suspect will be charge to court after the conclusion of the investigation.