Nigeria police arrest duo who used identity of traditional ruler for N51m Facebook fraud

In Nigeria, the Lagos State Police Command, on Thursday, paraded a painter, Moses Olaitan, and his accomplice, Segun Omoshola, for allegedly impersonating the Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and using his image to defraud a woman they met on Facebook of N51m.

The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Ikeja, said after a report was made, detectives tracked down and arrested Olaitan and Segun three months after perpetrating the crime.

Olaitan said after he opened a Facebook account in the name of the monarch, he started posting different pictures of the traditional ruler to attract potential suitors.

He stated, “Everything happened on Facebook. I impersonated Oba Saheed Elegushi on Facebook and used his pictures. She (the victim) connected with me online and said she wanted to marry a king and we started from there. I told her that if she wanted to marry a king, she needs to do some cultural activities and she agreed.

“She told me to send my account number, but because I didn’t have an account number, I contacted Segun, who provided the account used for collecting the money.

“I was paid N2.5m and it was when I was brought to the command that I got to know that what she paid was N51m. How I was arrested was that the police tracked my cousin’s number. I was making arrangements for my birthday when the police arrested me.”

Segun, 48, said the painter introduced him to the victim, adding, “I took him to those who provided the account used in collecting the money from the woman. I collected N3.5m. I was shocked when I heard that the money was N51m.”

Odumosu also paraded three suspects, Abubakar Riskwua, 29; Ibrahim Issa, 20; and Abubakar Bello, 22, for allegedly killing and setting ablaze a yet-to-be-identified person in the Badagry area of the state.

He said the suspects perpetrated the crime on the allegation that the victim was a thief at the Sawmill area of Badagry.

The police boss also confirmed the arrest of a man, Segun Olusoji, 42, for allegedly defiling his nine-year-old daughter in the Ilasamaja area of the state.

Odumosu said, “The case was initially reported by one Oluwafunmibi Ojewale, 27, against one Segun Olusoji, 42, at the Itire Divisional Police Headquarters and it was subsequently transferred to the SCIID, Yaba, for discreet investigation.

“Upon interrogation, the complainant asserted that the suspect had unlawful carnal knowledge of his nine-year-old daughter. The victim also affirmed that the father usually wakes her up at night to carry out the indecent act.”

Similarly, Odumosu said a case of conspiracy and defilement was transferred from the Ketu Police Station to the Gender Unit with a 12-year-old girl alleging that one Ebuka Orji defiled her.