By CHARLES KUMOLU

A LAGOS based Legal firm, Abayomi Iyasele & Associates has petitioned the Inspector- General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, over alleged fraud by an estate agent (names withheld) who  allegedly swindled a United States based firm the sum of N4, 499,00.00.

It also called on the police boss to transfer the matter from the Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Road, Ikoyi to the Force Headquarters for proper investigation and prosecution.

The petition was signed by Mr Anthony Iyasele, and copied to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Comptroller General of Customs, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Nigerian Shippers Council, Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Federal Maritime Commission, United States of America among others.

The petition reads: ‘’We act as solicitors to Base Global & Logistics Services Limited  on whose instruction and direction we write you as hereunder contained. Our client is a company incorporated in .Nigeria and engaged in the business of importation with its registered office at 12, Ajayi Road, Ogba, Lagos.

‘’Sometime last year, our client in the course of carrying out its legitimate business did procure the services of one estate agent to clear four (4) containers at the Tin Can Island wharf wherein over N4,499,000.00 (four million four hundred and ninety nine thousand Naira) was paid to him.

Unknown to our client, the estate agent turned out to be a fraud. Only one container has so far been cleared as at today by the agent who resorted to forging several payment receipts, assessment notices and other customs documents in defrauding our client. Our client strongly believes that the agent is not alone and that he is part of a larger network at the Tin Can Island Port .’’

It further said, ‘’A petition dated February 7, 2013 was accordingly forwarded by us to the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Road, Ikoyi complaining about the same agent. After our petition was approved for investigation on March 1,2013, the agent was arrested on March 13, 2013.

Both the agent and the Managing Director of our client, Oluwaseyi Olawore who is also the President/Chief Executive Officer, Base Ventures International Inc., a company registered in the United States of America and a licensed Non-Vessel Common Operating Carrier (NVOCC), International Freight Forwarder, Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) and New Used Auto Dealer were interviewed on March 22, 2013 where the agent admitted to forging documents which he amongst other things, used to clear one container thereby denying the Federal Government of the revenue that would have accrued to it. the Federal Government of the revenue that would have accrued to it.’’

According to the spetition, ‘’Our client believes that this goes beyond fraud and forgery as it also amounts to economic crimes. We were later informed at the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi that investigation had been completed and that the aagent will be charged to court immediately.

We thereafter, made a formal application for a police report on March 26, 2013. After several weeks of waiting for the agent to be charged to court as well as the issuance of a police report to our client, we were informed on April 30, 2013 that the police report was not ready and that they will want to see Oluwaseyi Olawore to clear some allegations against him.

“What is the reason for this sudden turn around? Our client is the complainant in this matter, no formal complaint from any quarter has been shown to him.  There has also not been any formal invitation from the police on any such allegation. It must be pointed out at this stage that for the past one month, there has no doubt been a lack of action on this matter by the police.