Popular Lagos politician and controversial businessman, Honourable Tony Bakare Akala, is currently in the eye of the storm. A fraud allegation is hanging on his neck, and this has further flung his political career into the doldrum.
Bakare, who is popularly addressed as The General, is a stalwart of The All Progressives Congress in Lagos State. He is laboriously running helter-skelter to untangle himself from the web of fraud scandal.
Bakare's travail began when a Lagos-based businessman, Austine Ugochukwu Albert, alleged he lost the sum of N360m to fraudsters in Lagos, in his bid to purchase foreign currency at the bureau de change.
Briefing newsmen on the incident in Abuja, Albert alleged that the crime was masterminded by three suspects, namely Hon. Tony Bakare Omotesho Akala (aka The General), Saidi Oke, Bashir Mohammed, Alhaji Umar Ali and Dr. Cyriacus Anyanwu.
He said that he had approached one Kunle Adesuyi and Mrs. Chinwe Ofolue (regional head, Heritage Bank Marina, branch, Lagos) for the purchase of foreign currency, totaling about $1,000,000 (One million USD) and was further introduced to Dr Cyriacus Anyanwu.
The businessman was later invited to the office of one Alhaji Umar Ali at No. 5B Audu Epkekha Street, Lekki, in Lagos State on the 14th of June 2017, where it was agreed that he will purchase the dollars at the rate of N360.00 (Three hundred and sixty naira) per dollar.
It also agreed that he should pay the total sum of N360, 000,000.00 (Three hundred and sixty million naira) into the understated accounts in the following order.
“That the sum of N350, 000,000.00 (Three hundred and fifty million naira) into the FCMB corporate account, Grantland Investment Limited, with account number 0785971017 which supposedly has Bashir Mohammed and Alhaji Umar Ali as signatories.
Lagos APC Party Chairman Otunba Henry Ajomale congratulating Hon. Tony Bakare as he welcomes him to the party.
The sum of N6,500,000.00 (Six million, five hundred thousand naira) to NAD Foundation account, with number 1020188396 domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA), which has Dr. Cyriacus Anyanwu as the signatory.
And Tri Chris Pet Services Limited account, with number 101411797 Zenith Bank belonging to Cyriacus Anyanwu to receive N2,500,000.00 (Two million, five hundred thousand naira), while cash of N1,000,000.00 (One million naira) will be given to Bashir Mohammed. The above sums will come to a total of N360, 000,000.00 (Three hundred and sixty million naira).
It was equally agreed that Albert will receive the dollar equivalent of the said sum which is $1,000,000 (One million) USD.”
He told newsmen that after the money was paid as agreed and the group, led by Bakare disappeared with the money and was only able to pay the sum of $130,000 (One Hundred and Thirty Thousand) USD after so much pressure.
“I first reported the matter at Area J command of the Nigeria Police Force, Ajah, Lagos State where the suspects made confessional statements that the entire transaction was a fraud, but at this point they all refused to give up their kingpin; Honourable Tony Bakare (aka General).
The matter was later transferred to Zone 2 command of the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos on the orders of the Assistant Inspector General of Police who equally ordered that all accounts already frozen by the Police pursuant to their investigation activities be unfrozen.
According to Albert “I was defrauded of the sum of N360, 000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty Million Naira) by Honourable Tony Bakare, Saidi Oke, Bashir Mohammed and Alhaji Umar Ali and Dr. Cyriacus Anyanwu. Initially the case was investigated by the Area J command of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Area command made some tremendous progress but suddenly the matter was withdrawn from the command and sent to monitoring unit of the Inspector General of Police on the orders of the Inspector General of Police.
“Officers of that department compromised the case and hurriedly charged the suspects to Magistrate Court though they were aware that the Magistrate Court has no jurisdiction to try such a matter.
“Through my efforts and that of my Lawyers, the matter was reassigned to the Force Intelligence Bureau headed by DCP Yari for investigation.
“The Force Intelligence Bureau acted professionally and intelligently and within weeks rounded up the suspects and obtained an order from the Federal High Court to have them detained pending investigation.
[caption id="attachment_78936" align="aligncenter" width“The Area command made some tremendous progress but suddenly the matter was withdrawn from the command and sent to monitoring unit of the Inspector General of Police on the orders of the Inspector General of Police.
“Officers of that department compromised the case and hurriedly charged the suspects to Magistrate Court though they were aware that the Magistrate Court has no jurisdiction to try such a matter.
“Through my efforts and that of my Lawyers, the matter was reassigned to the Force Intelligence Bureau headed by DCP Yari for investigation.
“The Force Intelligence Bureau acted professionally and intelligently and within weeks rounded up the suspects and obtained an order from the Federal High Court to have them detained pending investigation.
Lagos APC Party Chairman Otunba Henry Ajomale handing the party flag to Hon. Tony Bakare as he welcomes him to the party.[/caption]
“I am aware that the head of Force Intelligence Bureau was offered the sum of $100,000 (One Hundred Thousand) USD as bribe and he turned it down, went after the person that offered the bribe, arrested and detained him and recovered the sum of $20,000 (Twenty Thousand) USD meant to form part of the money to be paid to him as bribe.
“This honest officer was duly commended and recommended by the Inspector General of Police for his honesty who recommended that he be promoted to the office of Commissioner of Police.
“To my utter consternation, when I visited the FIB last week I got information from the investigators that Honourable Tony was boasting while still in detention that the head of the Bureau is too strict as he has refused to play ball.
“This honest officer was duly commended and recommended by the Inspector General of Police for his honesty who recommended that he be promoted to the office of Commissioner of Police.
“To my utter consternation, when I visited the FIB last week I got information from the investigators that Honourable Tony was boasting while still in detention that the head of the Bureau is too strict as he has refused to play ball.
“As such, he has offered the money that was rejected by men of Force Intelligence Bureau to the Inspector General of Police and that the case will not only be taken away from that department but the head of that unit will be removed.
“I treated this as the joke of the century and moved on. – Albert told LeadersNG
“However, less than twenty four hours after I got the information, the Inspector General of Police sent a signal that the case file be transferred to another unit and that the head of FIB be immediately transferred.
“I treated this as the joke of the century and moved on. – Albert told LeadersNG
“However, less than twenty four hours after I got the information, the Inspector General of Police sent a signal that the case file be transferred to another unit and that the head of FIB be immediately transferred.
“I was informed that about $200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand) USD exchanged hands between the suspects and the office of the Inspector General of Police.
“If not, why would you transfer a matter and punish an officer whom you had earlier commended and recommended for special promotion for his honesty and professionalism and the matter returned to the same officers who earlier compromised the matter.
“I equally have information that the money was paid to the IGP through an Inspector working closely with him in his office.
“I feel disheartened, disconsolate and betrayed by the head of the Nigerian Police Force who I trusted and depended on so much for justice.
“It is worthy of note that the same suspects approached the Chairman of Police Service Commission who after looking at the facts of the case, declined their offers and encouraged the Police to continue with their statutory duties.
“I am afraid that the suspects are about to be released and my entire fortune and that of my partners illegally obtained and retained by fraudsters under the direct supervision of the Inspector General of Police.”
His Lawyers has written a petition to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Police Service Commission to investigate the matter.
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