Top  Nollywood actor,  Mike Ezuruonye, has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its efforts in tackling the menace of advance fee fraud other forms of economic and financial crimes in the country.  Ezuruonye stated this on Monday, April 16 when he visited the Benin Zonal Office of the Commission.

Ezuruonye was at the Benin Office in relation to the use of his identity to defraud innocent Nigerians. The actor said he was devastated by the penchant by scammers to use his identity to defraud unsuspecting victims.

I have been impersonated several times especially on Facebook and other social media platforms by people claiming to be me and this has become worrisome to me.

"I was invited by the EFCC on an issue of a chap who defraud women promising them relationship. And it is amazing that this women have come to believe that I am the one. I was told that this chap use my picture, my voice and old videos to defraud people."

The Nollywood star said he was initially sceptical about  EFCC's ability to unmask those behind it. "I am still in shock about certain things that EFCC has shown me. I am impressed at what the EFCC is doing. From what I have seen, I will say the EFCC is working and is working to cleanse the country of cyber crime. Thank you EFCC for what you are doing," he stated.

Indeed, Ezuruonye's  commendation of the Commission is not far fetched. Two unscrupulous persons who specialises in using his identity to defraud innocent Nigerians have so far been arrested by the Commission. According to the actor, his life became endangered because of the activities of the fraudsters.  "I started getting threat calls from people, including men, over issues and some even told me not to come to certain countries or cities, that they would shoot me over what I did to their sisters and wives. I want to say thank you to the EFCC for the work it is doing".

One of the suspects arrested by the Commission, Ekoh Noel confessed that he defrauded a lady victim of N12 million under the pretence that the money was for the completion of a movie and that she would be refunded once the movie was completed, a claim which turned out to be false. One Osaigbovo Godspower also arrested by the Commission confessed that he defrauded a lady of N50 million using the identity of Mike Ezuruonye.

The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed.



                                                     Media & Publicity
                                                     17 April, 2018