Nigerian ‘prince’nabbed for extortion

A Nigerian national suspected to be engaged in swindling activities was apprehended in an entrapment operation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after he allegedly extorted $4,500 from a relative of a countryman detained at the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

NBI Acting Director Nestor Mantaring said 31-year-old Olarewaju Olajide, who claimed to be a prince, is also accused of defrauding middle aged women, whom he had promised to marry and had offered a life of luxury in his homeland.

Olajide, alias Dr. John, a nursing student at Virgen Milagrosa University in Pangasinan and a resident of Caloocan City, was charged with estafa before the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office. He has been living in the country for three years.

A check with the BI showed that Olajide was also an illegal alien. He would be turned over to the BI detention center.

During a press conference, Olajide pointed to marks on his face to prove his royal lineage.

Regional Director Ruel Lasala, of the NBI-NCR said they would check with the Nigerian Embassy to verify his claims.

Initial investigation showed that on June 16, Olajide contacted Julius Onyeugo, who works as a nurse in the US. The suspect informed him that his nephew Vincent Konjore was arrested by BI agents for carrying a fake Philippine passport.

He then demanded $4,500 (P225,000), which he said would ensure Konjore’s release. Onyeugo immediately wired the money.

The following day, the suspect asked for an additional $4,200.

Onyeugo became suspicious and went to the Philippines on June 26.

His detained cousin then told him that the suspect pocketed the money. Onyeugo then solicited the assistance of the NBI-NCR, which set up an entrapment operation.

The suspect was arrested at a coffee shop on U.N. Avenue on July 3.

During the course of the investigation, Lasala said they learned that Olajide allegedly defrauded at least three women of amounts ranging from P70,000 to P300,000.

One of his complainants Mary Casuyon, 42, a businesswoman and resident of Sta. Ana, Manila, said she met the suspect in an Internet chat room.

The suspect impressed her stories about his wealth and numerous businesses in the Philippines.

"He courted me and told me that he would bring me and my three children to Nigeria and that we would enjoy living in Nigeria. But I told him that I don’t need that because I want to live in the Philippines," Casuyon said.

The suspect borrowed P71,000 from her, saying he needed to get a shipment out of Customs.

Olajide promised to repay her the following day.

Casuyon never got her money back.

Olajide denied all allegations hurled against him. He even promised to contact his family in Nigeria to request for money and repay his victims.