Delta Police Arrest Three Suspects Over ₦5.4m Fraud Using Names of Top Government Officials
Three men have been arrested in Delta State over a suspected fraud scheme in which prominent government
officials were impersonated to deceive members of the public with promises of employment, political appointments and other government-related benefits.
The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu, 51; Moses Exist, 48; and Benjamin Owah, 49, were taken into custody by detectives attached to the Effurun Area Command following an investigation into their activities.
Police investigations uncovered a case involving a community leader from Otu-Jeremi, in Ughelli South Local Government Area, who reportedly lost ₦5,475,000 to the suspects after being promised assistance in securing the position of President-General of his community.
According to the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the suspects were arrested after detectives began investigating the scheme.
What made the operation particularly concerning was the method the suspects reportedly used to gain the trust of their targets. Investigators found that they made use of SIM cards said to be registered in the names of prominent public officials, creating an opportunity to impersonate individuals holding influential positions in government.
Among those whose identities were reportedly exploited were Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Chief Hon. Onoriode Sunday, Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor; and Hon. Prince Johnson Erijo, Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor.
The suspects also reportedly relied on a caller-identification application that displays names associated with incoming telephone numbers. By exploiting this feature, they could make their calls appear to come from the government officials they were impersonating, giving their claims an appearance of credibility.
In the case involving the Otu-Jeremi community leader, the suspects reportedly posed as the Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor and collected ₦5,475,000 by promising to facilitate his appointment as President-General.
A search of the suspects’ premises subsequently yielded items that could help investigators establish how the operation was conducted and whether other individuals were targeted.
The police recovered seven mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 ATM cards bearing the names of different account holders, one Point-of-Sale terminal and documents containing financial and identification details belonging to various individuals.
The recovered items are expected to assist investigators as they examine the suspected fraud operation and trace any additional victims or financial transactions connected to the case.
Reacting to the arrests, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel E. Erale, warned residents against treating caller-identification applications as reliable proof of a caller’s identity.
He particularly cautioned members of the public to be wary when telephone conversations involve demands for money or promises of government appointments and other official privileges.
The commissioner also appealed to anyone who may have lost money to the arrested men or encountered similar schemes to provide credible information to the police to support the ongoing investigation.
The command reiterated its commitment to tackling fraudulent activities and ensuring that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.
