Udeh Onuora Pascal and some of his ATM cards

Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday said it had arrested a 34-year-old man, suspected to be working for an international criminal organisation.

The agency said through a statement by its Head of Public Affairs, Ofoyeju Mitchell, that the suspect,  identified as Udeh Onuora Pascal, was in possession of 108 automatic teller machine (ATM) debit cards.

According to the agency, the arrest took place at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos while the suspect was attempting to board a Qatar Airline flight to China.

“The debit cards belong to five commercial banks,’’ the agency said.

It quoted its commander at the Lagos airport, Mr Ahmadu Garba, as saying that the suspect was arrested in connection with alleged money laundering.

The agency also added that the suspect was immediately transferred to the Assets and Financial Investigation Directorate of the Agency for investigation.

“First City Monument Bank (FCMB) had the highest number of cards with 58. Stanbic IBTC Bank has 23 cards, Zenith Bank 19, Fidelity Bank 6 and Diamond Bank 2.

“Mrs Victoria Egbase, the Director of Assets and Financial Investigation, said that the Agency had established a prima facie case of financial crime against the suspect,’’ it said.

It said that the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, had ordered the transfer of the case to the EFCC for further investigation.

The suspect in his statement said that he was asked to take the cards to China.

“I am not the owner of the cards. I was told to take them to China and that somebody will collect them from me when I get there. I have a shop where I sell clothes at Onitsha main market. I am also a 300 level student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State studying History and International Relations. I never knew it would lead to my arrest.”

Udeh hails from Obibi in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.