INTERPOL NABS, EXTRADITES FRAUDSTER IN UAE AFTER TWO YEARS OF COORDINATED EFFORT
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
The INTERPOL have been able to arrest and secure the extradition of a fraud suspect, after about two years of being on red alert list.
In the press release by the Police, Trek Africa Newspaper gathered: ‘The extant case involves a complaint filed by one Mr. Akinola Bayo
Michael, who, in October 2021, sought to obtain foreign exchange
(forex) for the purpose of purchasing a machine from the Netherlands.
Mr. Michael sent a substantial sum of Four Hundred and Ninety Two Million, Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N492,750,000) only to
the bank account of Mr. Mohammed Sulaiman. However, instead of
facilitating the forex transaction as agreed, Mr. Sulaiman transferred the funds to another individual, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau. Mr. Hassan Barau, who resides in the United Arab Emirates, subsequently sent 513,000 Euros to Mr. Michael from Belgium,
supposedly for the forex transaction.’
‘However, this transaction was flagged as fraudulent, leading Mr. Michael to return the funds to the sender. Realizing that he had been a victim of fraud, Mr. Michael made
multiple attempts to recover his money but was unsuccessful.’
‘The case took a significant turn when it was assigned to INTERPOL which launched an investigation into the matter. Recognizing the severity of the fraud and its international dimension, INTERPOL placed the prime
suspect, Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau, on a red alert list, thereby
facilitating international cooperation in tracking and apprehending the
suspect.’
‘We are pleased to inform you that Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau was
arrested by INTERPOL Abu Dhabi and subsequently extradited to Nigeria on 27th September 2023. His extradition marks a crucial milestone in
the pursuit of justice for Mr. Akinola Bayo Michael. The successful extradition of Mr. Mohammed Hassan Barau demonstrates the
commitment of law enforcement agencies, both within and outside
Nigeria, to ensuring that perpetrators of criminal activities, particularly
those with international ramifications, are held accountable for their
actions’, Trek Africa Newspaper gathered.
‘This case underscores the importance of vigilance and due diligence in
financial transactions, especially in the era of increasingly sophisticated fraud schemes. We urge individuals and businesses to exercise caution and verify the legitimacy of financial transactions to prevent falling victim to fraud.
