By Nicholas Ojo
The Delta State Police Command has arrested three men accused of impersonating senior government officials to defraud a community leader of ₦5.475 million with a promise to facilitate his appointment as president-general of his community.
Key Highlights
- Delta Police arrest three suspects for allegedly defrauding an Otu-Jeremi community leader of ₦5.475m.
- The suspects allegedly impersonated SGF George Akume and top Delta Government House officials.
- They allegedly used SIM cards and a caller-ID app to make calls appear to come from officials.
- Police recovered seven phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 ATM cards and a POS terminal.
- CP Samuel Erale warns the public not to rely on caller-ID apps to verify callers.
The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu, Moses Exist and Benjamin Owah, were arrested by detectives attached to the area command in Effurun, following an investigation into an alleged fraud syndicate that reportedly used the identities of prominent public officials to deceive victims.
According to a police statement issued on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, the suspects allegedly posed as government officials to promise unsuspecting members of the public employment opportunities, political appointments and other government privileges in exchange for money.
Officials Impersonated
The police said the suspects allegedly impersonated Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Onoriode Sunday, Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor; and Prince Johnson Erijo, identified in the statement as the governor’s chief of staff, among other public officials.
Investigators alleged that the suspects used SIM cards purportedly registered under the identities of the officials to deceive their victims.
They also allegedly exploited a caller-identification application that displays names associated with incoming telephone numbers to make their calls appear as though they originated from the government officials they were impersonating.
In one of the alleged operations, the suspects reportedly posed as the director of protocol to the Delta State governor and defrauded a community leader from Otu-Jeremi of ₦5,475,000.
The victim was allegedly made to believe that the money would facilitate his appointment as President-General of his community.
Read also:
- Police Arrest 5 Suspects, Recover Firearms, Cartridges In Separate Raids In Delta
- Delta Police Arrest 95 Suspected Cultists, Recover Five Firearms in Statewide Crackdown
- Delta Police Probe Fatal Shooting of Young Man, Attacks on Community Leaders in Okpara Inland
Items Recovered
A search of the suspects’ premises reportedly led to the recovery of seven mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 ATM cards bearing different account holders’ names and a Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal.
The police also said they recovered documents containing financial and identification information belonging to different individuals.
The command said investigations were ongoing to identify other possible victims and accomplices connected to the alleged fraud.
Reacting to the arrests, the Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, warned members of the public against relying on caller-identification applications to establish the identity of people contacting them, particularly when the calls involve financial demands or promises of government appointments.
He urged anyone who might have fallen victim to the suspects or similar fraudulent schemes to come forward with credible information to assist investigators.
The police commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling fraud and ensuring that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
For more Delta State news and updates, follow us on X.
