32-Year-Old Driver Impersonates Air Force Officer, Extorts Money (Photo)

A fake Nigerian Air Force officer, Muhammed Abdullahi, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for allegedly using the force uniform to extort money from unsuspecting members of the public.

He was brought before Chief Magistrate O.A. Olayinka on three counts bordering on impersonation and fraud.

Abdullahi, who was arrested in the Agege area, had confessed to the police that he bought the uniform from a soldier friend for N5,000.

The 32-year-old suspect said he used the uniform to escort traders and their goods to markets around the state, adding that he collected N3,000 for a trip.Abdullahi, who studied Computer Engineering at a polytechnic in Katsina State, had gone for three outings before luck ran out on him on February 2, when he was arrested.

The indigene of Manufashi Local Government, Katsina State, said he resorted to the act to cater to his family after he lost his driving job in December. “I was a commercial driver. I shuttled between Lagos and Abuja. But the owner of the bus, my elder brother, collected it from me in December and sold it when he wanted to travel abroad.

I have a National Diploma in Computer Science. I have applied for the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force three times, but I did not succeed. I engaged in this act to feed my family. I have three children and my wife is pregnant. I regret my action.”