A VEHICLE which was being used by three Nigerians suspected to be members of a 419 syndicate abandoned by them while being pursued by the police has been found in a bush at Lebanon Zone 5 near Ashaiman by some executives of the Ashaiman North Welfare Association.

The vehicle, bearing a Togolese registration number RT 03014, was abandoned by the Nigerians, Lucky Aganbi, 36, Sylvanus Ekanem, 34 and Blessing Owheriareho, 22, who were arrested by the Kotobabi District Police after a tip of on August 20.

Chronicle learnt from Mr. Samuel Kwame Amable, chhairman of the association, that the vehicle was found abandoned in a bush at Zone 5, Lebanon, and he reported the matter to the Ashiaman district Commander, Supt. Fiawoo.

He later informed the Kotobabi district commander, Supt. Kwadwo Oware about the discovery of the vehicle by members of the association.

Chronicle further learnt from Amable that Supt. Oware confirmed that arrest of the three suspects and promised to send him men to remove the vehicle from the area.

When Chronicle visited the area, the vehicle had been removed from the bush to a safer place, but the police had not made any effort to tow it away to their offices, at the time of filing this story.

Amable appealed to the police to remove the vehicle from the area, failing which the association itself will annex it and use it as an information van to serve the interests of the community.

Chronicle learnt from Supt Oware that the three Nigierians allegedly defrauded a Canadian businessman, George Brown, US$170,000 under the pretext of supplying him with gold and jewellery.

After collecting the amount, the three suspects made further demands on Mr. Brown to pay additional $17,000 and ?30 million before handling over the jewellery which they claimed was in the vault of a security company in Togo and, therefore, need extra costs to bring down Togo.

Chronicle further learnt from Supt Oware that the Canadian businessman suspected fraud and therefore reported the matter to the police after agreeing to pay the additional amount.

The suspects agreed to the deal and were to meet the businessman at a spot near Ashaiman whiles a team of plain clothes policemen from Kotobabi district police command arrived to effect their arrest.