Police foil attempt to defraud canadian govt of N89.9m

Posted by admin Africa & World Politics, Headlines Sunday, March 17th, 2013

BY EVELYN USMAN
LAGOS —The Special Fraud Unit, SFU, Milverton Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested a 50-year-old man following his attempt to defraud the Canadian government of N89.9million.

The suspect, Ibukun Ojo, allegedly connived with one Steve Olusoji, a Nigerian living in Canada, who is currently at large, to forge a medical bill of N89,989,742.46, with a view to enabling him claim health Insurance from the Canadian government.

Items recovered from the suspect
But the bubble, according to spokesperson for SFU, Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, burst following a petition from the Canadian High Commission in Nigeria.

According to her, when operatives of the SFU stormed Ojo’s hospital located at 2, Mukandasi street, Oja-Oke area of Oshodi, it was discovered that the hospital was being run by him and his wife alone.

She also disclosed that Ojo was discovered not to be a certified medical practitioner.

During interrogation, the OndoState born Ojo reportedly told the operatives that he dropped out of medical school at the University of Ife (now ObafemiAwolowoUniversity).

Ojo who was discovered to have been operating the hospital for five years, further told the operatives that after he dropped out of school, he relocated to Lagos from where he got a job as a medical assistant, before he opened his own clinic.

“When his hospital was visited, it was discovered that there was no billboard signifying its location. Also, he did not have any nurse working for him.

“He was said to have confessed to the alleged crime admitting forging medical documents, including the medical summary report on Steve Olusoji Fakolujo with claim number 216316 for a paltry sum of N1,500 with the aid of his unregistered letter headed paper which had ‘Mount Zion Clinic and Hospital’ stamped on it”.

A copy of the document which fleeing Steve reportedly took to Canada, read; “To whom it may concern, the above named person was brought into our hospital in an unconscious state. He presented with severe dehydration and rigidity of the limbs secondary to prolong stooling and vomiting with plasmodiasis.

“He was diagnosed with severe gastroenteritis. Supportive therapy was initiated with intravenous procedure employed. Treatment was corroborated with antibiotics. Patient regained consciousness…”.

A breakdown of the bill showed that N19,969,032.46 was charged for accommodation and feeding; N28,000,000 for medical and consultation charges; drugs and medication was N19,649,032.46.00; ambulance fees N10,180,000 and miscellaneous expenses N5,700,750

When approached, the suspect simply stated, “I dot not know anything about Canada. I do not have anything about insurance or anything of that stuff. That is the only thing I can say. I do not have anything to say now and when I get to the court my lawyer will talk for me”, Ojo statedwp_posts