Police Arrest Former Chairman, Importers Association over Alleged Impersonation, Forgery

ZION Olalekan

Former Director-General, National Taskforce to combat illegal importation, smuggling of goods, small arms, ammunition and light-weapons, Osita Emmanuel Okereke, has been arrested

Okereke, who was arrested on Thursday April 17, was accused of forgery, impersonation and obtaining money under false pretence from unsuspecting job seekers across the federation.

Besides, the police said the suspect was also under criminal investigation for allegedly mobilising some hoodlums loyal to him who assaulted and inflicted various degrees of injuries on some police detectives who went for his arrest.

The Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Frank Mba confirmed this development adding that the police acted on a petition written by a Nigerian who disclosed the various criminal allegations against Okereke.

When grilled on the identity of the petitioner, Mba said, “I won’t disclose his identity for security reasons. But even in the best democracy of the world, there is a duty to protect the identity of a petitioner who disclosed information in confidence to the police.

“However, with time, the identity of the petitioner will be made known. It is not a faceless petition. You will certainly get to know more as investigation progresses but not now.”

When contacted, the acting Director-General of Importers Association of Nigeria (Special Taskforce), Ambassador Chijioke Okoro, also confirmed the arrest.

He alleged that Okereke has been dubious over time while trying to hijack the management and organisation of the Importers Association of Nigeria, IMAN.

In one of his alleged criminal attempts, Okoro said Okereke swore to an affidavit, claiming that the certificate of incorporation issued by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to IMAN was lost to armed robbers.

Okereke, it was learnt, claimed that armed robbers attacked the National Secretary of IMAN, Kingsley Chikezie and dispossessed him of the said certificate. But it was reportedly untrue.

Okoro alleged that Okereke also deceived the CAC into issuing him another certificate of incorporation without proper advertisements in some dailies as required by law.

It was, however, gathered that the original certificate of incorporation was, hitherto, in the safe custody of the IMAN’s Board of Trustees, BoT.

Apparently dissatisfied with his questionable character, the BoT intervened and subsequently suspended Okereke and later expelled him as DG, NAT Force, as well President, Importers Association of Nigeria.

Yet, Okereke was still reportedly parading himself everywhere as the substantive DG of NATForce and President, IMAN.

When challenged, Okereke approached an Abuja High court, sitting in Jabi under the lordship of Justice Halilu J, where he was said to have secured a verdict in his favour. But it was instantly appealed by IMAN.

At the Federal Court of Appeal, Abuja, presided by Justices Adamu Jauro, Stephen Jonah Adah and Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, the judgement of the lower court was quashed in favour of IMAN.

Unrestrained, the Police alleged that Okereke has been involved in criminal activities of impersonation, forgery and obtaining money under false pretence from job seekers across the country.

Mba affirmed that once investigation was concluded, Okereke would be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction for prosecution

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