Hunt begins for Lebanese con man who swindled 3 customers of N170m

A hunt is currently underway by the police for a Lebanese bureau de change operator, Aly Sayad who is being accused of absconding with the sum of $487,700 (about N170m) given to him by three businessmen.

Reports say the three businessmen approached the Lebanese man in his office on Idowu Taylor Street, Victoria Island, asking him to help them change the sum of $487,700 to naira equivalent but to the surprise of the businessmen, the Lebanese man who after collecting the sum said he was going to the bank to transfer the naira equivalent to their various bank accounts reportedly fled with the cash.

After waiting for hours for the BDC operator, the businessmen became apprehensive and suspicious as Sayad could not be reached.

When it dawned on them that Sayad had eloped with the lump sum, the businessmen reported the case at the Bar Beach Police Division, and a manhunt for the BDC operator was launched.

A police source revealed that the businessmen waited for over seven hours for the suspect, before they decided to report the matter to the police.

“The three men actually met at the Lebanese man’s office where they gave him money totalling $487,700 which they wanted to change to naira. He told them to wait for him that he would be going to the bank to deposit the dollars and transfer the naira equivalent into their bank accounts.

“The three businessmen waited until banking hours were almost over. They decided to go and check him around 3pm, but they didn’t find him in the bank. After checking at other places without result, they reported the matter to the police.” The police source said.

According to Dolapo Badmos, the Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the case, Sayad is on the run and no one knows his address.

“We are on his trail. The unfortunate thing is that nobody knows his address. We have transferred the matter to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba, for further investigation. We will surely get him.” She said.

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