Rita Odafe
A 28-year-old man named Oluwanisola Quadri, suspected of being a drug addict, has been arrested for fraud just one week after his release from prison in Oyo State.
Quadri was caught by the Oluyole Security Surveillance Team in Ibadan after he deceived several Point of Sale (PoS) operators and traders by pretending to make money transfers to their accounts using banking apps.
As reported, he would approach PoS operators, ask for cash, and claim he would transfer the amount plus a commission using his banking app. Instead, he was merely altering a credit alert on his phone, changing the name, date, and time, then forwarding it to convince his victims that he had paid them.
Quadri admitted to starting this fraudulent scheme in June, and although he was successful for a time, he was ultimately arrested in September by local police and brought to court.
Because he could not meet bail conditions, he remained in Agodi Correctional Centre until late November, when fellow inmates helped him secure his release.
After his release, Quadri returned to his old ways, claiming he needed money to survive.
When speaking to reporters, Quadri appeared disoriented, likely under the influence of drugs, which he began consuming during his time at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. His addiction was so severe that he spent his tuition money on drugs, which ultimately led him to drop out when he couldn’t pay for his exams.
His father, a petrol dealer in Saki Town, discovered his son’s addiction when he noticed his school fees were misused. Despite the heartache this caused, the father tried to help Quadri by sending him to a rehabilitation center. However, Quadri relapsed shortly after completing the program and resorted to fraud to fund his drug use.
Quadri’s tactics included collecting cash from PoS operators and sending them fake transfer receipts, as well as deceiving chemists for medication payments through non-existent transfers.
His recent downfall occurred after he approached a PoS operator at Olomi Junction in Ibadan for a cash withdrawal of N20,000, providing a forged transfer receipt. An argument ensued when the operator noticed the payment hadn’t been received, leading to Quadri’s arrest.
He had just been released from Agodi Correctional Centre only a week prior, having again been charged with fraud.
The Commandant of the OSST, Olusegun Idowu, stated that when Quadri’s father was informed of the situation, he chose not to intervene further, suggesting that his son should face legal consequences.
In his own words, Quadri admitted to his struggles with drug addiction. He explained how his academic journey had been derailed by his substance abuse and the disappointment it caused his family.
Quadri stated, “I am from Saki but I live in Beere, Ibadan. I came to Ibadan in July to learn truck driving after studying accounting at LAUTECH, but due to financial issues, I couldn’t finish my education.”
He recounted how he had to leave school because he failed to pay his tuition and missed several exams, leading to more significant issues with his father.
Despite attempts from his father to seek help for his addiction, Quadri ended up relapsing after returning from rehabilitation and returning to drugs. He explained his switch to fraud as a desperate measure to fund his addiction.
He detailed his fraudulent methods: “I would edit bank alerts and send them to the PoS operators. The idea came to me since I studied accounting, and it initially worked until I was caught,” he explained. He expressed regret over his addiction and criminal actions, noting that his attempts to find legitimate work have been unsuccessful due to his background.
