Kelechi Nmeka, an Imo-state businessman, has narrated how officials of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Imo, are conniving with fraudsters to deny him a refund on the property he bought for N1.7 million.

Nmeka told FIJ that he bought the property, a parcel of land, situated at  Okpee Oba, Umome, Umuguma, Owerri, in June 2022. He said that although a certain Josephat Anyaelezu carried out the property transaction, he did it pretending that the property belonged to him.

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“In April 2021, I bought a piece of land from Josephat Anyaelezu. I had no idea the property was not his,” Nmeka told FIJ.

“I paid N1,732,500 for the property and had already mounted a fence-like structure on the property when I found out that the property was not his and the transaction was a fraud.  I got to know it belonged to one Stanley Edu’s elder brother whose name I’m yet to know.”

Nmeka said when Edu found out Anyaelezu had sold the land to him, he demolished the structure already built on the property.

“Edu, after getting the hint that Anyaelezu had resold the land to me, went ahead to demolish the structure worth N500,000 on the property.

“I wanted a refund of my money and the worth of the demolition but didn’t get anywhere with the two men and then decided to report the matter to the NSCDC.”

NSCDC RACKETEERING

The Imo-based businessman said he reported the case to the NSCDC with hopes that he would get a refund, but the agency began to play pranks.

“I reported the case to the agency on June 24, 2022, and Officer Kelvin Amadi (the intelligence officer) and Officer Okpaise Charles (HOD), who were handling the matter, helped me recover N500,000 from Edu.

“However, they stated that they would take 10 percent of the recovered sum and I immediately gave them N20,000 as part of it, hoping the case would progress.”

According to Nmeka, in September 2022, the officers recovered another lump sum from the fraudsters but refused to release the money.

“In September, the officers recovered N432,000 and N200,000 at different times from the seller and N232,000 from the agents involved in the sale of the property,” he told FIJ

“I wrote an official letter to the officers, asking them to release the recovered fund but they read it and refused to acknowledge it or release the money.

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“The letter was a breakdown of the money stating that the initial N500,000 was for the demolished structure and that the balance of N1,300,000 would be remaining if I collected the N432,500 that was realised.

“The officers, however, insisted that the initial N500,000 recovered for destruction was part of the N1.5 million payment for the land. Ever since, they have refused to release the money.

“The officers began to play games by issuing a statement that the N500, 000 recovered from Edu was not for the demolition. Meanwhile, Edu knew nothing about the sale of the land. He was nowhere in the picture.

“Afterwards, their acts became deviant. First, they claimed I did not write a statement. They also rearrested Edu and asked him to rewrite another statement, while the seller was left to roam freely. Their actions became inconsistent and tiring.”

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STATE COMMANDANT RESPONDS

The businessman told FIJ he had to seek help from his lawyer, Kelechi Ogbonna, who in turn spoke with Ovye Matthew Sunday, state commandant of the NSCDC, on his behalf. He added that the commandant’s actions, however, endorsed the corrupt acts of his officers.

“When I sent my lawyer to them to represent me and collect the money, they kept him waiting all day and sent him back empty-handed,” he said.

“He came back to say that the commandant was aware of the alleged criminal intimidation, alleged incompetence, and arbitrary misuse of power against me. Rather than investigate the matter, he endorsed their acts.

“I am tired of all the back and forth. I just want my money back. N1.7 million is a lot of money to forgo in this economy.”

When FIJ called Officer Kelvin Amadi, he asked that our reporter to visit him to discuss the issue.

“We are aware of the case you are investigating but it can’t be discussed over the phone.”

Ovye Matthew Sunday, the NSCDC Imo State commandant, told FIJ that Nmeka was being untruthful.

“This man in question, I’ve never met him. His case was before the civil defence before I was posted there in July 2022. I met the case when I assumed office,” he said.

“He bought the land from someone who also bought it from another person. Along the line, the land appreciated and Nmeka had to pay N1.7 million for it, including the agents’ fees.”

When FIJ asked why Kelvin Ogbonna, his lawyer, was sent back empty-handed.

The SC said, “He didn’t send any lawyer. Rather, he sent his pastor. The NSCDC sent him an initial N500,000 but he insisted that there were damages done on his land even though the reports of the investigating officers stated otherwise.

“There was no structure or block on the land, yet he is demanding damages, a fresh demand of N1.6 million.”

Sunday denied ever meeting any of the persons handling the case on Nmeka’s behalf and said he latter refused to show up despite several invitations.

“I’m yet to meet any of his spokespersons. I have invited him to my office numerous times to receive his money but he had refused to honor the invites,” he told FIJ.

“Why is he scared to collect his own money? I need him to show up so he can take the investigating officers to the land he claimed was damaged.

“The case is currently in my office and we might make headway if he shows up.”

A text message also sent to Officer Charles Okpaise was yet to be responded to at press time.