Traders at the Mile 3 Market Diobu, PortHarcourt apprehended a man whose identity is yet to be ascertained reportedly in possession of 1.3M naira new notes on Thursday 30, January,2023 inside the market.
A trader in the market who identified herself as Rachael Jabin told our reporter that the man suspected to be a member of fake new naira note syndicate with another member of the gang had visited the market making several purchase at different shops.
Miss Jabin said some traders whom the man bought goods from later observed that the new naira note given to them by the men were counterfeit and they started trailing the men who was said to have come from a neighbouring state.
She said one of the man was apprehended by the traders and other customers in the market reportedly in possession 1.3Million naira fake new naira notes which is the balance of the 2M the apprehended suspect and his colleague who abconded came with.
Our source disclosed that the market executives rescued the man from the mob who wanted to lynch.The source stated that the suspect was handed over to the Nkpolu Divisional Police headqurters,Mile 3 but it was not clear if counterfeit money were given to the Police by the market executives.
Mr Gift Nkesi Chairman of Mile 3 Market promised to revert on two different occasions our reporter called him but he was yet to do so as at time of filing the report.
the Market Chairman who later spoke through the Chairman of Disciplinary committe, Mr. Ibe Athinatus said the executives rescued a young man accused of using counterfeit 1,000 new naira note to purchase goods in the market from mob action.
Mr.Athinatus said he saw the man with 1,000 naira new note and the traders who accused the man to follow him to the Police station but they all refused.
Mr.Athinatus explained that since the traders who accuse the man of using counterfeit money to purchase goods refused to go to the station with him,he(Athinatus ) left the man to go as is not in his position to determine a counterfeit money.
Mr.Athinatus denied insinuation that the market executives collected 1.3Million Naira fake new naira note from the suspect.