The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)- Cordillera has sued a Nigerian and members of his syndicate responsible in carting away hard-earned money from an OFW, he promised even to marry.

NBI-Cordillera Regional Director lawyer Hector Eduard Geologo in his complaint before Baguio City Prosecutor Conrado Catral Jr. claimed OFW Rizza Lee Bumilay Dasi of Purok 2, Lower Quirino Hill, here sought their assistance against Nigerian national Chimezie Joshua Nwaeleke, whom the OFW claimed to have carted away her hard-earned money.

Dasi, an OFW from Japan, the NBI said, arrived home on May 2021. Single, she looked for a relationship and downloaded the online dating application “Tagged” sometime in July 2021 where she met a certain “Benson Marck”. They reportedly began to have intimate communications where the Nigerian told Dasi he is an orphan and is from Alabama, U.S.A. He also claimed he is in the US Army and since began calling Dasi “honey”.

“Benson Marck” reportedly told Dasi that he was assigned in Syria to provide security for the President against the rebels. He has told her that he and his companions recovered a safe box containing US$635,000 or around P32, 183, 795.00. He also told Dasi that he hid the money and he is planning to use it to start a new life with her.

The Nigerian convinced Dasi to send a total of P1,086,000. 00 to “Benson’s” Filipino co-conspirators, on different dates through BDO and Cebuana Lhullier.

The NBI also found a second victim— only so far named as “CM” from Capas, Tarlac, who claimed he was courted by the Nigerian Nwaeleke sometime in February 2021 and thus bloomed into a romantic relationship. Since then, everytime they met, the Nigerian will give her P2,000.00

On May 2021, Nwaeleke told CM to open an an ATM account and gave the BDO ATM card to the Nigerian.

On August 2021, BDO contacted CM for some clarifications about her account, which the Nigerian dissuader her not to.

But CM still went to the BDO and she was told that her account is involved in a scam. She was told by the bank she cannot give valid reasons on the big amounts of money being deposited to her account, thus was advised to close the account, which she did.

CM according to the NBI has began cooperating with the government to nail down the Nigerian and his cohorts Cecile Olartez Velarde of Palina East, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Arminda Velarde Sapon of Palina East, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Lympyn Martin with no known address, Toto Akmad, an Alias “Albright George”, an alias “Benson Marck”, an alias “Anthony Kenneth”, an alias “Marian Lueto”, and a John Doe, all with unknown addresses.

Geologo said with this, he hoped the victimizations are put to a halt while asking would-be victims on similar scams to be circumspect in dealing with such schemes.