Two brothers arrested for fake currency

Photos: RRS nabs two brothers in possession
of fake currency

Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of
Lagos State Police Command, today, arrested two
blood brothers allegedly in connection with the
possession of 80 pieces of fake N1000. The
suspects who are from the same parents, Ifeanyi
Ihesiaba and Hope Ihesiaba, were apprehended on
a tip-off from the owner of a business centre
(name withheld) at Magodo/Isheri area of Lagos,
where one of the suspects, Ifeanyi, went to buy a
recharge card of N200 with a fake One Thousand
Naira note.
According to the shop operator, “It was around
6:35 pm. I was inside my shop when I saw this
young man came in to demand for Two hundred
Naira of recharge card. I stood up immediately to
attend to him. I demanded for the money before I
could give him the recharge card he asked for.
Suspiciously, I deeply looked at the money, and I
discovered that it was a fake denomination of One
thousand Naira…. Then, I pretended as if I was still
looking for the recharge card and balance of N800
Naira, and I used the back door to go out. I looked
around for the Police, and luckily for me, I saw
RRS operatives who were on patrol routine around
the axis. I explained to them, and they instantly
followed me to my shop which led to his arrest.”
Upon his arrival at the RRS’ Headquarters in
Alausa, the suspect made a confessional
statement, saying that his brother, Hope Ihesiaba,
who just arrived to Lagos from South-Eastern part
of the Country, gave him the money. “I will not
deny the fact that the monies are fake. But I
thought I could spend them around the area. I
have made a greatest mistake of my life”, he
noted.
However, his confessional statement helped the
Police to track his brother to brothel where he was
arrested after hidden for two days. While
interrogating his brother, he said that he never
knew it was a criminal offence to be in possession
of fake currency.
"When I noticed that my brother has been
apprehended where he went to spend the money, I
had to take to my heels. I went to hide in a brothel
around Berger area. But at a point, I realised that
blood is thicker than water, and more so, my
brother is innocent. So, when he pretended that he
was released on bail, I decided to show face in
order to apologise to him… I don't know he was
deceiving me so that I can come out from my
shell. I went back home after two days,
unknowingly, Police had surrounded everywhere,
and I got arrested".
Explaining how he got the fake currency, the
suspect said “I bought the currency from one guy
simply identified as Odi in Aba. I exchanged 80
pieces of fake one thousand naira for N28,000.
There is a popular relaxation spot in Aba, called
Boropit opposite Ariara Market. At this place, there
are many people dealing with this fake currency."
The suspected criminal said that he relocated to
Lagos last November after his laundry shop in
Rumuola Road in Port-Harcourt was demolished
by the State Government.
"When all I had laboured for in my life has been
destroyed by the government, I had to relocate to
Lagos to start a new life. At the moment, I am
managing with my brother in his apartment. I was
looking for capital to start -up my laundry
business, but help was not forthcoming. Then, I
decided to go to Aba to buy the fake currency, so I
can be spending it here and collecting balances in
each one thousand naira. I think by this means, I
can begin new life".
He went further, “When I got back to Lagos with 80
pieces of fake one thousand naira, I shared it into
two; I gave my brother 40 pieces and also took 40
pieces of fake currency. It was one of the fake
money I gave my brother that he wanted to spend
to buy to a recharge card where he was arrested."
The RRS operatives further made frantic efforts to
recover all other fake currency in their
possession, by searching their three-bedroom flat
residence, at No 2B Oluwakemi Street, Ojodu-
Abiodun, where another 77 pieces of fake one
thousand were recovered. His girlfriend, Ndubuisi
Ijeoma, and another suspect, Simeone Joseph,
were also arrested.
In his words, Simeon Joseph, who denied having
knowledge of the fake currency found on the
suspect, said that he was only putting up with him
pending the time he will get his own
accommodation. “I am into music production and
learning hair dressing from one Mrs. Orji who had
recently travelled out of the country. I knew the
suspect about ten years ago…. I am just trying
may be I will be managing with him in his shop
because he is also a hair-stylist. And since my
boss had travelled out of the country, I wish I
continue learning the work. This is why I decided
to put up with him in his house in Ojodu. Apart
from hair dressing work, I did not know that the
suspect is dealing with fake currency.”
He continued: “I did not know anything about the
one thousand naira denomination found on him
and subsequent search of his house where
another fake currency was recovered. I know it is
criminal offence to be in possession or spend of
fake currency.
One of the suspect’s girlfriends, Ndubuisi Ijeoma,
confessed that all the fake currency found in her
wardrobe all belonged to his boyfriend, Ifeanyi
Ihesiaba.
“The Policemen conducted a search in my room
and they found two laptops, DSTV Walka, and my
phones. The laptops belonged to my boyfriend and
his friend. The fake currency found under my
clothes was kept there by the suspect, which I
knew nothing about. I don’t know anything about
the fake currency, but was recovered under my
clothes in my room,” Ijeoma added.
Other items recovered from the suspects are two
laptops, a cutlass, sledge hammer and a sum of
Seventeen Thousand Naira.
Confirming the arrest, the state Police'
Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police, SP
Dolapo Badmus, implored people to critically look
at any currency denomination exchanging with
them for business transaction. The suspects have
been transferred to State Criminal Investigation

Department (SCID) for prosecution.