A fraudster whose name was given as Julius Achu has been detained for investigation in Bamenda for possessing fake government stamps, Northwest police reports.

More than 150 fake stamps representing different ministries and civil servants of the Public Contract sector in the North West region were seized from him.

Security sources revealed that he operated with a vast network of officials in key positions in the region. The same source also revealed to the press that the fake stamps were used to deliver certificates which has to do with the fiscal and customs clearing departments, the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) and other services of some senior state functionaries. All of which, our sources said, has cheated the state of colossal sums of money.

A former paymaster general of the North West treasury whose name The Median did not immediately get, is reported to have long been aware of Julius Achu’s fraudulent activity and had even asked him to put an end to it to no avail.

At the time of his arrest, the suspected mastermind was in possession of receipts of money received through Express Union from some entrepreneurs, some divisional delegates of Public Contract, some mayors and other officials.

Achu also had in his briefcase documents of some entrepreneurs pending treatment.

He is said to have informed the police that his boss in this fraudulent activity was a certain Eric Ndikum, former president of the youth wing of the CPDM section for Santa, who died sometime ago.

Achu reportedly added that when Ndikum died, he decided to continue with the activity.

He further told the investigators that he is the owner of four companies, including Juh Atang and Sons Company, Achu and Sons Company, and Check and Sons Company.

Enter Minister Abba Sadou

The arrest of Julius Achu did not leave the minister of Public Contracts, Abba Sadou, indifferent. The Median learned that he immediately dispatched a team of investigators to the North West region, and that the arrival of the latter has shaken many senior state functionary there.

A number of them we were told, have been telling the inquirers that their signatures were forged and that many of their office documents were falsified by experts in this domain.

Investigations are ongoing to arrest other culprits in the network. Civil servants and other persons who will be found guilty of working in collusion with the suspected scammer are expected to serve long prison terms.