The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested an imposter who was posing as an EACC Investigator and extorting money from individuals purporting to be carrying out investigations in which they are adversely mentioned.
Ibrahim Ngamau Wangari was arrested by EACC detectives on Friday evening at Quivers Lounge located along Thika Road, Nairobi following a report from a complainant.
The complainant was among Millers who had been enlisted by the Government to supply subsidized maize flour just before the 2022 General elections.
In this case, Ngamau started calling the complainant on Monday, November 21, 2022 informing him that he was conducting investigations in the Ministry of Agriculture relating to the supply of subsidized maize flour.
He promised the complainant that in addition to ensuring that there will be no adverse findings touching on the complainant, Ngamau would also assist the complainant to get any outstanding payment from the Ministry of Agriculture in exchange for an amount of money they would agree on in a meeting.
Ngamau then summoned the businessman to appear before him on Friday November 25, 2022 at EACC Integrity Centre Offices for interview and statement recording. He ordered the complainant to carry all the documents he used to supply the subsidized maize flour, Tax Compliance Certificate, audit reports and all his bank account statements from January 2022 for inspection, as part of “the ongoing investigation.”
The complainant compiled the “required” documents and when he was on his way to Integrity Centre, the suspect called and changed the venue to Quivers Lounge which he termed as convenient for their discussion on how the suspect would assist the complainant. In the meeting, they were to negotiate the amount the complainant would pay for protection from investigations as well as assistance to get his payment from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Unknown to the suspect, the complainant had already reported the matter to EACC. Ngamau was arrested in an operation by EACC Detectives while waiting to receive the complainant at Quivers Lounge and escorted to EACC Integrity Centre Police Station where he was interviewed. He was later transferred to Kilimani Police Station where he is currently held pending further processing in accordance with the law.
From the interview conducted Friday Ngamau is suspected to be among notorious imposters and fraudsters on the loose who are posing as EACC Investigators and soliciting money and other favours from state officers in both national and county governments purportedly to protect them from corruption investigations or prosecution.
His arrest comes in the wake of numerous complaints that the commission continues to receive from members of the public regarding impostors.
Section 34 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 states that; “No person other than an investigator shall represent himself to be or act as an investigator, and a person who contravenes this section is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or to both”.
To protect members of the public from such fraudsters and conmen, EACC has not only issued its officers with appropriate identification documents, which can be verified on request, but also continues to warn members of the public to be vigilant and report to EACC any suspicious persons or fraudsters who present themselves as EACC investigators.
Members of the public are advised to always insist to any person claiming to be an EACC Investigator to first identify themselves and further take note that any interview or questioning by EACC is undertaken only at the Commission’s premises or in police stations, and not any other place.
The Commission warned all such offenders that they will be firmly dealt with in accordance with the law and hopes that the arrested imposter will serve as a good example to the rest.
