FACE OF A THIEF:Nigeria’s Highlife King’s Son, Hope Rex Lawson in N73 million Fraud…’He’s Declared Wanted’, says EFCC*States: ‘He stole 46 Vehicles from Goshen Motors, Issued Dud Ecobank/Zenith Bank Cheques’*Dupes Unsuspecting Public under ‘Rebuild Nigeria Initiative’-INVESTIGATION*Absconds from Abuja Home at No. 9b Constitution Avenue, Gaduwa Estate Gudu, FCT*PLUS his Shameful Loss as PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant for Rivers State in 2015 Election#QUOTE: “Stealing is stealing. I don’t care if it’s on the internet or you’re breaking into a warehouse somewhere-It’s theft”-Patrick Leahy

FACE OF A THIEF:

Nigeria’s Highlife King’s Son, Hope Rex Lawson in N73 million Fraud…’He’s Declared Wanted’, says EFCC

*States: ‘He stole 46 Vehicles from Goshen Motors, Issued Dud Ecobank/Zenith Bank Cheques’

*Dupes Unsuspecting Public under ‘Rebuild Nigeria Initiative’-INVESTIGATION

*Absconds from Abuja Home at No. 9b Constitution Avenue, Gaduwa Estate Gudu, FCT

*PLUS his Shameful Loss as PDP Gubernatorial Aspirant for Rivers State in 2015 Election

#QUOTE: “Stealing is stealing. I don’t care if it’s on the internet or you’re breaking into a warehouse somewhere-It’s theft”-Patrick Leahy

BY GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/CNN iReport Journalist

REX JIM LAWSON, famously known as Cardinal Rex, a singer, trumpeter and bandleader from Kalabari area of Rivers State respected globally for his evergreen highlife music in the 1960s who died at the age of 36 years on his way to honour a music performance in Warri, Delta State would certainly be in tears, turning in his grave and be placing curses on his son, Hope, for bringing the reputation of his family into opprobrium as a thief.

It is on record that throughout the lifetime of Cardinal Rex, where he began his music career in Port Harcourt, a bandboy for Lord Eddyson’s Starlight Melody Ochestra, played with Sammy Obot; Bobby Benson, Victor Olaiya, Chris Ajilo, other Ghanaian/Nigerian musicians and bands, he kept the good name of his family without a stain. But all of these great accomplishments seem to have been washed away by the kleptomaniac vice of Hope who has abandoned his home, allegedly escaped with wife and children to an unknown destination.

‘He’s Declared Wanted’, says EFCC

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared one Chief Hope Rex Lawson wanted in connection with a case of issuance of Dud Cheque of N73,600, 000.00 (Seventy-three million six hundred thousand naira). Lawson is the National Coordinator of a frontline Non Governmental Organization (NGO) popularly known as Rebuild Nigeria Initiative.

Going by EFCC, Lawson allegedly issued several Ecobank and Zenith Bank cheques to Goshen Motors Limited as payment for 46 vehicles. This correspondent investigation showed that the cheques were returned unpaid upon presentation of the bank due to insufficient funds in the account.

‘Dupes Unsuspecting Public under ‘Rebuild Nigeria Initiative’-INVESTIGATION

Our undercover investigation confirms how this National Coordinator of a frontline Non Governmental Organization (NGO) popularly known as ‘Rebuild Nigeria Initiative’, exploits, deceives and dupe unsuspecting members of the public with promises of empowerment schemes project after which money allegedly exchange hands. A reliable family source in Buguma(who would not want his name mentioned), close to this 41 years old fleeing suspect corroborated this news story, when he said: “Extended family members of Rex Lawson are very angry with Hope, as they could hardly rich him presently. His whereabouts and those of his wife, children are not known. The Rex Lawson’s extended family bitterness is the manner Hope has disrobed all good legacies of his late father, Cardinal Rex whose music is till being played across Africa today. I am aware that the family members could not find any of the 46 vehicles deceitfully purchased from Goshen Motors. The family has now become an object of ridicule all over Nigeria and beyond the shores of the country.”

Lawson was a governorship aspirant on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State, one of the advocates of Kalabari governor in 2015. He suffered major defeat during the PDP primaries as he had no single vote by the congress, which invariably brought his political adventure into oblivion.

The authorities of the EFCC said that Lawson’s last known residential address was No. 9b Constitution Avenue, Gaduwa Estate Gudu, Abuja. Lawson is the son of the late High life king, Cardinal Rex Lawson Chief Rex Lawson, a native of Buguma in the Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The EFCC, however called on the public to furnish useful information to its Commission the whereabouts of the son of the well respected and the international known high life music king to it’s Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt and Abuja offices or to the nearest police station or other security agencies. ###

EFCC press statements read: “The public is hereby notified that Chief Hope Rex Lawson, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with a case of Issuance of Dud Cheque.

“Rex Lawson in his capacity as the National Coordinator of Rebuild Nigeria Initiative NGO, allegedly issued several EcoBank and Zenith Bank cheques to Goshen Motors Limited as payment for 46 Vehicles. The cheques totalling N73, 600, 000.00 (Seventy Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira) were returned unpaid upon presentation at the Bank due to insufficient funds in the account.
Dark complexioned Rex Lawson is 41 years old and of medium height. He is an indigene of Buguma in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State. His last known residential address was No. 9B Constitution Avenue, Gaduwa Estate, Gudu, Abuja.”

As at the time of filing this report, Lawson’s whereabouts still could not be found, as EFCC operatives burgled his cellphones and place him on security surveillance.