Fake CNN correspondent nabbed in Bayelsa

Yenagoa
A 36 years old man, Paul Yempe parading himself as the correspondent of the Cable News Network (CNN) in Bayelsa State was yesterday arrested in the office of the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Energy.
His arrest was made possible by the Chairman of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Tari Akono.
Yempe, who was handed over to officials of the State Security Service (SSS) is undergoing interrogation about his activities in Bayelsa State.
As of the time of arrest, Yempe was in possession of the identification card of the Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation known as Radio Rivers and a fake identification card of the CNN.
Checks indicated that Yempe, who has been targeting top government officials, had swindled top members of the State Executive Council over claims that he was shooting a documentary on the activities of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.
While a Commissioner was said to have parted with huge sum of money, another top official of the government was said to have lodged Yempe in high-brow hotel and processing the approval of a large sum of money to finance the CNN documentary.
Akono, who explained how Yempe was nabbed, said his insistence that he works for CNN led to the fake CNN ID card in his bag.
“The attempt by the fake journalist to affirm his genuineness led to the discovery of a fake CNN Identification card in his bag. He came to the office of the Energy Commissioner claiming to have come for an interview as part of a documentary he is working on for the state. I asked the Commissioner to allow him in and apprehended him. I asked him for his camera but he said he is using his mobile handset as a recorder.”