A retired colonel, Bassey Jackson-Umoh,
was on Thursday paraded by the Cross River State Police command for
allegedly stealing a 2008 model of Toyota Highlander belonging to a
member of the Cross River House of Assembly, Mr. Steven Okpupken.
was on Thursday paraded by the Cross River State Police command for
allegedly stealing a 2008 model of Toyota Highlander belonging to a
member of the Cross River House of Assembly, Mr. Steven Okpupken.
The Police Public
Relations Officer, Mr. John Eluu, told gooo2015/11/4322″ target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Punch that the suspect was arrested with the
vehicle in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State following complaints from a car dealer.
The retired colonel, who
allegedly posed as Maj.-Gen Peter Williams, attached to the Aso Rock
Villa in Abuja, had issued a dud cheque to the car dealer and left an
old Toyota Camry car in the dealer’s custody.
allegedly posed as Maj.-Gen Peter Williams, attached to the Aso Rock
Villa in Abuja, had issued a dud cheque to the car dealer and left an
old Toyota Camry car in the dealer’s custody.
But the suspect while being paraded
boasted that he would deal with all those connected with his travail
when he regained his freedom.
boasted that he would deal with all those connected with his travail
when he regained his freedom.
“At the end of the day, the truth will
come out and I will deal with all those connected with this and
everybody connected will pay for it,” he boasted.
However, the PPRO maintained that the
blue Toyota Highlander with number plate, Cross River BKS 214 AA, was
received fraudulently.
blue Toyota Highlander with number plate, Cross River BKS 214 AA, was
received fraudulently.
He said,
“On October 5, 2015, one Mr.
Steven Okpukpen, a member of the state House of Assembly, came to the
command with a written petition that he gave out his 2008 Toyota
Highlander for sale. He gave the light blue vehicle to the owner of
Micah Motors to be placed for sale at the cost of N3m.
“He stated that to his surprise, the
manager of Micah Motors informed him that one retired Maj. Gen. Peter
Williams came to his car shop and indicated interest to buy the
Highlander and another Honda Accord car for N7.5m.“In his petition, he also stated that
the said retired colonel, who introduced himself as Maj. Gen. Peter
Williams, had on October 3, issued a post-dated cheque to be cashed on
October 5, by the Managing Director of Micah Motors. But on presentation
of the cheque to the bank, it was dishonoured by the bank for
insufficient funds.”
The PPRO said upon receipt of the
information, a team of detective from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in
the state trailed the suspect to Uyo where he was arrested.
information, a team of detective from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in
the state trailed the suspect to Uyo where he was arrested.
He added,
“During investigation, the
suspect confessed to the police that his real name was Col. Bassey
Jackson-Umoh (retd). He said that Maj. Gen. Peter Williams was his fake
business name which he used in duping members of the public.
“He equally confessed that he was fully
aware that there was no money in the said bank account. He confessed
that since his Toyota Camry car was bad and he needed a new car and had
no money to buy a new one, he had to convince the car dealer that there
was money in the said bank account. He did this dirty deal so as to
allow him take possession of the Toyota Highlander and the Honda car.”