The Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a fraud syndicate accused of impersonating government officials to defraud members of the public with promises of government appointments and other official privileges.
The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu, 51; Moses Exist, 48; and Benjamin Owah, 49, were arrested by detectives attached to the Area Command in Effurun, Delta State, following an investigation into the alleged fraud.
The police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspects allegedly impersonated prominent government officials to convince unsuspecting individuals that they could secure political appointments, government employment and other privileges in exchange for money.
Among the officials whose identities were allegedly used were Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Chief Onoriode Sunday, Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor; and Prince Johnson Erijo, identified in the police report as Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor.
According to Edafe, the suspects allegedly used SIM cards registered under the names of the officials and exploited a caller-identification application to make their telephone calls appear to originate from the individuals they were impersonating.
In one of the alleged transactions, the suspects reportedly defrauded a community leader from Otu-Jeremi of ₦5,475,000 by impersonating the Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor. The money was allegedly collected under the pretext of facilitating the victim’s appointment as President-General of his community.
The police spokesperson did not disclose the identity of the alleged victim or provide further details about the transaction.
A search of the suspects’ premises reportedly led to the recovery of seven mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 automated teller machine cards bearing different account holders’ names and a Point-of-Sale terminal.
Investigators also recovered documents containing financial and identification information belonging to different individuals. The police said the items would assist in tracing financial transactions linked to the alleged fraud and identifying other persons who might be connected to the operation.
The command said investigations were continuing to establish the full extent of the alleged activities, identify additional victims and determine whether other individuals were involved.
Reacting to the arrests, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, cautioned members of the public against relying solely on caller-identification applications to establish the identity of people contacting them.
He urged residents to independently verify the identities of individuals claiming to be government officials, particularly when they request money in exchange for political appointments, employment opportunities or other government-related benefits.
The commissioner also encouraged anyone who might have fallen victim to the suspects or similar schemes to provide credible information to the police to assist the ongoing investigation.
Eralе reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating fraud and other criminal activities in the state, assuring the public that investigations would continue to ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
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