Lagos Pilgrim Arrested With Fake $22k In Mecca
November 16, 2009 15:04 (4 hours ago), 371 views
By Kazeem Ugbodaga

A Lagos pilgrim currently in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for this year’s Muslim hajj, has been arrested by the Saudi Police for being in possession of fake $22, 000 (N3.3 million) from which he has been spending.

P.M.News gathered from a source, who is currently performing the hajj in Saudi Arabia, that the pilgrim, who came from Agege Local Government Area of the state, had been put in police custody.

Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, who is in Saudi Arabia as leader of the Lagos State delegates refused to release the name of the arrested Lagos pilgrim or comment on the issue, when he was asked by a source in the holy land.

It was gathered that the pilgrim had already converted $100 to Saudi Riyad undetected by operators of bureau de change and it was in the process of trying to convert more dollars to local currency that the fraud was detected and he was promptly arrested and detained.

It was gathered that further search on him led to the discovery of more fake dollars in his possession.

In Saudi Arabia, anyone caught stealing would have his hand chopped off, while those caught with hard drugs face death penalty, but is not known yet, what will be the punishment for the Lagos pilgrim caught with fake dollars.

Last year, two Lagos pilgrims were caught at the Murtala Muhammed Airport with hard drugs on their way to Saudi Arabia.

Before embarking on the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, pilgrims from Lagos were educated on the dos and don’ts in that country and why they should not tarnish the image of the state and the nation at large.

They were urged to shun all forms of dubious activities and desist from drug smuggling to the holy land as that would warrant death if caught. They were also enjoined to be good ambassadors of the state.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government had also set up a hajj tribunal that would go with the pilgrims to Mecca. The tribunal is expected to try and prosecute erring pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia.


http://thepmnews.com/2009/11/16/lagos-pilgrim-arrested-with-fake-22k-in-mecca

yorubas will never stop spoiling our name anywhere they go. look at what their credit card fraud has done to our image in uk. now fake dollars in saudi. terrible.

Only GOD knows what happened, it could be the man was defrauded or he is a privy to the whole mess. A whole $22,000? Let us begin to fear GOD in this country!.

Oduduwa will be crying whereever he is now seeing all the despicable acts of his sons and daughters. Even at the Holy Land? This is most unfortunate.

1luvkipsus:

Oduduwa will be crying whereever he is now seeing all the despicable acts of his sons and daughters. Even at the Holy Land? This is most unfortunate.

His consolation should be, in Nigeria and with Nigerians, all things are possible!

1luvkipsus:

Oduduwa will be crying whereever he is now seeing all the despicable acts of his sons and daughters. Even at the Holy Land? This is most unfortunate.

Is it time their "god of thunder" ( Sango) begins to strike her sons and daughters. This cant continue forever.

There is no point going that far!. Leave everything to GOD. HIS judgement is perfect judgement. Only GOD knows what happened. Whether the man really knew what he was doing, or he was defrauded? . GOD will judge!.

chosen04:

Is it time their "god of thunder" ( Sango) begins to strike her sons and daughters. This cant continue forever.

Interesting, aren't you the same poster who whines about Igbos being bashed?

Richyblack has let this section go offtrack

selingel:

yorubas will never stop spoiling our name anywhere they go. look at what their credit card fraud has done to our image in uk. now fake dollars in saudi. terrible.

How did you conclude that the culprit is Yoruba?

bawomolo:

Interesting, aren't you the same poster who whines about Igbos being bashed?

Richyblack has let this section go offtrack

Pls mind you! I dont support crime be it Igbo, Hausa or Yoruba or others, Black or white. If its an Igbo I will still want same for him/her.
Crime/Corruption is not a tribal thing and can only be defeated by sincere minds without any tribal colourations. Although i dont believe in nigeria but this cant continue forever. Its time other supernatural powers begins to help us to track this persons if we cant track them.

Hope you can comprehend my reason(s)

I do not really see why crimes are being attached to a particular tribe. It is embedded. People sit down, plan and execute crimes. We should jointly fight crimes, instead of justifying them by tribes.

selingel:

I do not really see why crimes are being attached to a particular tribe. It is embedded. People sit down, plan and execute crimes. We should jointly fight crimes, instead of justifying them by tribes.

EXACTLY! Thats the only way to defeat crime. Not by justifying it with of tribal colouration

chosen04:

EXACTLY! Thats the only way to defeat crime. Not by justifying it with of tribal colouration

Good talk. Until we all join hands to fight crime, we shall just be going round and round, while the main issue is there, unscathed!.

There is nothing holy to these people. We all know that, alot of these people are business men. You need to see them at the airport when they are coming in, or better still, wait and see when they want to clear their cargo. There and then you will ask whether indeed, they went for hajj, or they went to buy goods!.
Those that went for Hajj, you will know, those that went for business, you need not ask, you will them.

Published 11/19/2009 2:15:00 AM
LASG disowns pilgrim caught with fake dollar bills
Mudiaga Affe


The Lagos State Government on Wednesday disowned the pilgrim arrested with fake $22,000 in Saudi Arabia.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture, Alhaji Babatunde Balogun, who spoke to our correspondent from Saudi Arabia, said the pilgrim hailed from Kwara State, but was only resident in Lagos.

He gave the name of the arrested pilgrim as Alarape.

Balogun also said that the arrest of the pilgrim did not in any way affect the image of Lagos State.

According to him, “Lagos State’s image is intact;” stressing that government could not embark on proper scrutiny of all her pilgrims since the flight that conveyed them to the holy land was provided by the National Hajj Commission, which made it a Herculean task to monitor the pilgrims.

He said the arrested pilgrim was still being interrogated and would be charged to court by the Saudi Police very soon.

Balogun added that as soon as the case was charged to court, he would contact the Nigerian Embassy in Saudi Arabia to intervene since the case was beyond any state government.

He said 10 pilgrims were dropped from participating in the hajj before being airlifted from Lagos for various reasons.

According to him, three were dropped because they were under-aged, while one was a pregnant woman.

He also said two others were dropped as a result of sickness, while two died before the pilgrims were airlifted from Lagos.

He added that another woman was dropped for carrying an under-aged child.

It was gathered that since the pilgrim was arrested with fake dollars, it had become difficult for other Nigerian pilgrims to convert their money to Saudi Riyal, as Saudi security men continue to keep a close watch on the Nigerians in the holy land.

Alarape is said to reside in Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, and was arrested over the weekend by the Saudi authority for possessing fake $22,000.

He was arrested while trying to convert more dollars to Saudi Riyal after getting away with the first $100.



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