THE Nigeria Police Force today paraded nototrious fraudsters who specialised in impersonation and identity theft of public office holders, politicians, captains of industry and other prominent personalities at the force headquarters, Abuja.

The suspects were arrested by following the complaints from members of the public on the illegal activities of some notorious criminals, who impersonate eminent personalities in the country and dispossessed them of their hard earned valuables.  This prompted Ibrahim Idris, Nigeria’s inspector general of police, IGP, to direct the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, to unravel those behind the heinous and dastard act and bring them to justice.

The suspects are Ovie Ogo, traditional ruler of Omoku-Rivers state, 47, from Ekpan in Ethiope East LGA of Delta state; Abdullazeez Eragbe, 40, a native of Ikabigbo in Esako West LGA of Edo State; Babatunde Oshamoto, 49 years, from Iyamoye, Ijumu LGA of Kogi State; Samuel Idah, 25, from Uromi, Esan North – East LGA of Edo State and Prince Attah a.k.a Maurice (based in United Kingdom) at large.

Exhibits recovered from them included 14 assorted G.S.M sets, all with SIM cards registered with the names of top government officials and other prominent Nigerians; several extra registered SIM cards; a diary containing phone numbers of several top government officials and prominent persons in the country

On March 28, the IRT cracked and arrested the suspected criminals who posed as chief of staff to president, senate president, national security adviser to president, minister of petroleum, minister of Finance, minister of transport, Bola Tinubu, and many other prominent Nigerians.

A statement from the Police signed by Jimoh Moshood, Force public relations officer made available to Realnews stated, “In a coordinated operation in synergy with the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) after a painstaking and sustained surveillance by IRT the above mentioned suspects were arrested. The four man gang notorious syndicate led by one High Chief Ovie Ogo ( Eze Ireoma of Omoku-Rivers state) was arrested in an Hotel in Kaduna State.”

He said that Ogo impersonates prominent citizens from the South-South and Southeast. Eragbe who impersonates prominent citizens from the North is born and brought up in Kaduna speaks Hausa fluently. Also, Oshamoto impersonates prominent citizens from the South West and North Central while Idah supplies them with SIM cards registered with the names of the prominent Citizens.

According to him, “All the suspects confessed to the crime admitting to have impersonated several prominent citizens and made over Twenty Million Naira (₦20,000,000) from their Criminal acts within the last six (6) months before they were arrested.

“Chief Ovie Ogo further confessed that he posed as the National Security Adviser and collected thirteen Million Naira (₦13,000,000) from a Ghanaian who wants to get an Oil block in Nigeria.

“The gang also posed as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and collected four Million Naira (₦4,000,000) from one man name withheld, who is seeking for Federal appointment.

“They equally posed as Chief of Staff to the President and collected Two Million Five Hundred Thousand naira (₦2,500,000) from another individual, who is looking for contract.

“The suspects again posed as the Chief of Staff to president and collected Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (₦700,000) from one young man name withheld, who is also seeking for Federal appointment.

Investigation is being intensified to arrest the other suspects at large while those arrested will be charged to court on completion of investigation.

The police advised the general public is advised to be careful and verify the identity of whosoever they may wish to transact business or relate with.

—  Mar 30, 2017 @ 18:10 GMT

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