Arrested Ghana man turns out to be Nigerian national
Fake currency seized, cops say he could be involved in duping cases

India -- A man apprehended on suspicion and in whose possession railway police allegedly found fake photocopies of a passport showing he was from the Republic of Ghana, besides fake currency, has turned out to be Nigerian national, whose involvement in several other frauds is being suspected.
Railway cops said they seized about 17 bundles of fake US dollars. They suspect his hand in other frauds based on emails to him.
The suspect, Akeem Lanre Shonubare (45), was frisked on suspicion on July 12 evening by Pune railway police near the main gate of the Pune railway station but he tried to flee, cops said. Abdur Rehman, superintendent, Government Railway Police (GRP), said, “He was apprehended on suspicion. The fraud and further links came to fore during investigation.”
R R Shelke, assistant police inspector with GRP and the investigating officer, said, “He first told us that he was a resident of Ghana and his name was John Ashanti. The only document he had was a photocopy of a passport and visa stamp. When we searched his luggage, we found a laptop and an I-card of the All India Nigerian Students Association. During interrogation, he revealed that he was a Nigerian and told us his real name. He had photocopied someone else’s passport and attached his photo.”
Police said they recovered 17 bundles of fake US dollars. Among his emails they found one from a dentist in Chennai, A Vasudev, asking him to return money he said he paid after the Nigerian assured him of some help from an African country. “We suspect him to have duped more persons from Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi making the same promises. He may have taken the help of Indian associates in cheating people by delivering false hopes of awards and international aid,” police said.
He was charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 for cheating and forgery and 489 (c) for use of fake currency. He was produced in court which remanded him in police custody until July 20. Other investigating team members were inspector S T Naukadkar and MN Rokde.