OGUN: POLICE NAB SUSPECTED FAKE CLERIC OVER ALLEGED N18M FRAUD
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Agency Report
The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Adewale Arojah for allegedly impersonating a cleric on Facebook and defrauding unsuspecting victims of more than N18 million.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta.
According to Babaseyi, Arojah was arrested by operatives of the Ilaro Division following a complaint filed on October 3 by Muyiwa Akogun, popularly known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr. Muyiwa Akogun.”
Akogun had reportedly alerted the police after receiving complaints from members of the public about fraudulent activities allegedly being carried out through a duplicated Facebook account bearing his identity.
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Babaseyi said the suspect, who was reportedly a spiritual son of Akogun, allegedly exploited the cleric’s identity to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
Following the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro, deployed intelligence and detective operatives to trace the suspect.
The police spokesperson said sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led investigations eventually led to Arojah’s arrest in a village in Ajegunle, along the Ilaro-Ibogun axis.
“Upon his arrest, the suspect confessed during interrogation to impersonating Akogun and using his identity to offer fake prophecies and prayer services to unsuspecting victims.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect targeted people seeking spiritual assistance through the cleric’s Facebook page and allegedly defrauded victims in Nigeria and abroad of over N18 million,” Babaseyi said.
He added that the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The police said the investigation would determine the full extent of the alleged offences and identify any possible accomplices.
Babaseyi quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, as commending the Ilaro operatives for their vigilance and prompt response.
Ojajuni reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating cybercrime, identity theft and other forms of criminality across the state.
He also urged members of the public to verify the authenticity of social media accounts belonging to religious leaders and public figures before engaging with them.
The police commissioner further advised citizens against transferring money to unverified individuals in exchange for spiritual remedies or other services.
The CP encouraged members of the public to report cybercrime, impersonation and suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464.
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