EFCC nails businessmen in fake travellers’ cheque scandal
By YETUNDE AYOBAMI OJO
A forensic document examiner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bamairiga Haruna, has told a Lagos Special Offences Court, Ikeja, that $10,000 dollars traveller’s cheque found in possession of a businessman, Mark Obisesan was a counterfeit.
The forensic expert disclosed this in his evidence-in-chief, led by Mr Nkereuwem A. Anana, before Justice Serifat Solebo in an ongoing trial of Obisesan and three others – Olumide Mcintosh, Bolaji Bakare and Goodluck Bazunu.
He testified after the four men were re-arraigned over alleged conspiracy and forging of United State Travellers Cheque.
EFCC alleged that the four defendants and one Josiah Ntekume who is at large sometime in 2018 purchased and received forged United States Dollar Traveler’s cheque no GA 908-981-567
However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge levelled against them.
The forensic expert said, upon careful observation of the $10,000 traveller’s cheque, it was observed that the cheque lacks the statutory security features of a cheque.
Haruna explained that the traveller’s cheque was analysed with a handheld magnifier, laser microscope, video comparator 8000 and ultraviolet light.
He stated that upon completion of the analysis, all his findings were compiled in a report and forwarded to the head of operation for further investigation.
He further told the court that his report was extensive enough and as to generally how the currency is produced. “I personally reached out to overseas criminal investigation embassy in Abuja.”
Subsequently, the EFCC counsel presented the report to the witness to authenticate and after his affirmation, Anana tender the report which was admitted in evidence.
However, under cross-examination by the defence counsel team, the forensic document examiner said that the $10,000/ was issued by America Express while the 100 dollars traveller cheque which is genuine was issued by Mastercard.
He, however, said that non-constant handlers of a traveller’s cheque can not identify fake except he or she has previous knowledge.
Earlier, a legal attache with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Mr Ayotunde Awoyeni in his testimony narrated to the court that the EFCC sent a letter to his office, requesting from the FBI to assist the commission to confirm the authenticity of all the 11 traveller cheques.
Awoyeni said: ” The 11 traveller cheques were attached to the EFCC letter. All the letters were handed over to the Supervisory Special Agent, Alan Armstrong. Armstrong wrote an email to America Express.
“She later made phone call after a while, referred them to the earlier email sent. The officer at the other end checked the database to confirm that the numbers were not genuine.
“The response was written down in the letter, the pictures were printed out and attached to the letter signed by Alan Armstrong on January 29, 2020. (The Guardian)
