How convicted fraudster, Aroke pulled off $1m scam from Lagos’ maximum prison, attends parties

A convicted internet fraudster, Hope Olusegun Aroke, who is
currently serving a 24-year jail term at the Kirikiri Maximum
Prison in Lagos is again being investigated by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly masterminding a
mega scam to the tune of over $1million.

This was disclosed in a statement by EFCC spokesman, Wilson
Uwujaren, on Tuesday.

The statement reads: “He allegedly pulled the heist right from
prison using a network of accomplices, some of them targets of
fraud and money laundering investigation.

“The lid on his latest fraud exploits from the bowels of the
Maximum Correctional Centre was blown following intelligence
received by the EFCC.

“The immediate riddle that confronted the EFCC was how it was
possible for the convict to continue to ply his ignoble trade of
Internet fraud from prison.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the convict, against
established standard practice, had access to internet and mobile
phone in the Correctional Centre where he is supposed to be serving
his jail term.

“Even more puzzling was the finding that Aroke got himself
admitted to the Nigeria Police Hospital, Falomo, Lagos for an
undisclosed ailment. And from the hospital, he would move out to
lodge in hotels, meet with his wife and two children and attend
other social functions.

“The circumstance of his admission into the hospital and those
who aided his movement from the hospital to hotels and other social
engagements is already being investigated by the EFCC.

“For a felon supposedly serving a jail term, investigation
revealed that the Aroke used a fictitious name, Akinwunmi
Sorinmade, to open two accounts with First Bank Plc and Guaranty
Trust Bank Plc.

“He also bought a property at Fountain Spring Estate, in Lekki,
Lagos in 2018 for N22million and a Lexus RX 350 2018 model
registered in his wife’s name, Maria Jennifer Aroke.

“The convict was also in possession of his wife’s bank account
token in prison, which he used to freely transfer funds.

“Further investigation revealed that, while his trial was
ongoing in 2015, Aroke bought a four bedroom duplex at Plot 12,
Deji Fadoju Street, Megamounds Estate, from Lekki County Homes,
Lekki for N48million.

“Aroje was one of the two Malaysia-based Nigerian undergraduate
fraudsters arrested by the EFCC in the closing weeks of 2012 at the
1004 Housing Estate, Victoria Island, Lagos following a
tip-off.

“The indigene of Okene, Kogi state had claimed to be a student
of Computer Science at the Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan University,
Malaysia.

“But the Commission’s investigation fingered him as the arrow
head of an intricate web of internet fraud scheme that traversed
two continents.

“When Aroke was arrested, a search conducted by EFCC operatives
on his apartment led to the recovery of several items such as
laptops, iPad, travelling documents, cheque books, flash drives,
internet modem, and three exotic cars – a Mercedes Benz Jeep, One
4Matic Mercedes Benz Car and a Range Rover Sport SUV.

“He was eventually convicted by Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a
Lagos State High Court on two counts of obtaining money by false
pretence, cheque cloning, wire transfer and forgery.

“He was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment on each of the
two counts.”