A 28-year-old man, who claimed to be a student of the University of Ibadan, Orowo (surname withheld), has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for defrauding an Australian, Jette Jacob, of $90,000.
EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicit, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement on Monday that Orowo obtained the $90,000 from Jacob in a romance scam.
Uwujaren also said the Aussie was found dead five days after Orowo visited her in South Africa and lived in her residence in Johannesburg.
He said Orowo, who met the Johannesburg, South Africa-based Aussie in a dating site, struck a romance affair with her which made him to visit her in South Africa in 2013.
He said the Nigerian lover arrived Johannesburg on February 4, 2013, and lived with her in her residence in the South African city.
Uwujaren said the Aussie, who had been in Johannesburg since November 2012, was found dead in her apartment five days after the arrival of her alleged Nigerian lover.
The EFCC spokesman said some of the valuables in the residence of the late Jacob were found to be missing while Orowo allegedly fled South Africa to Nigeria.
He said the South African Police, investigating the issue, suspected foul play in the death of Jacob.
He added that the EFCC was brought in to the issue following a petition from Richard Stanford of the Australian Federal Police seeking assistance on the issue.
It was alleged in the petition that the Nigerian defrauded the deceased of the sum of $90,000.
He said the commission commenced investigation into the issue and arrested the suspected fraudster, who according to him, had been elusive for some time.
“The commission swung into action almost immediately but the suspected fraudster had been elusive until a few days ago when he was arrested. He has already made useful statement while efforts are on to track his accomplices.
“The suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed,” Uwujaren said.