The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the controller of Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Emmanuel Oluwaniyi, for his alleged role in allowing a convicted internet fraudster, Hope Aroke, to receive treatment outside the prison.
Aroke, also known as H.Money, is serving a 24-year jail term after being jailed by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja on two counts of obtaining money by false pretence, cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery.
EFCC said on Tuesday in a statement by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, that Aroke oversaw a mega scam of over $1 million from prison, using a network of accomplices.
The statement said the convict was given access to the internet and mobile phone in detention.
EFCC also arrested the head of the medical centre at Kirikiri Prison, Hemeson Edwin, for allegedly exaggerating a medical report which allowed Aroke to be moved outside the facility.Both men were arrested on Monday.
“The suspects have given useful information to the Commission about their alleged involvement in the crime,” Uwujaren said.
“Aroke was one of the two Malaysia-based Nigerian undergraduate fraudsters arrested by the EFCC towards the end of 2012 at the 1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos, following a tip-off.”
According to Uwujaren, Aroke, a native of Okene, Kogi state, claimed to be a student of computer science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University, Malaysia.
The arrests follow an undercover investigation by journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, which detailed corruption at Ikoyi prison.
