Edo Community Leader Defrauded of N5.4m in Fake Appointment Scam

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested three suspected members of a fraud syndicate for allegedly defrauding a community leader of N5.4 million in the state.

The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu 51; Moses Exist, 48; and Benjamin Owah 49; were arrested by the police attached to the Effuru Area Command division following an investigation.

The command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, said preliminary findings revealed that the suspects allegedly used SIM cards purportedly registered under the identities of prominent public officials, including the Secretary to George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Chief Hon. Onoriode Sunday, Director of Protocol to the Governor of Delta State; and Hon. Prince Johnson Erijo, identified as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State, among others.

He said the suspects  also allegedly exploited a caller-identification application on mobile phones, which displays names associated with incoming telephone numbers, to create the false impression that their calls originated from the officials being impersonated.

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He said in one of their alleged operations, the suspects impersonated the Director of Protocol to the Governor of Delta State and defrauded a community leader from Otu-Jeremi of ₦5,475,000 million, under the false pretence of facilitating his appointment as President-General of the community.

Edafe said a search of the suspects’ premises led to the recovery of seven mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 ATM cards bearing different account holders’ names, one  Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal and documents containing financial and identification information belonging to different individuals.

He said investigation was ongoing to identify other possible victims and accomplices and bring them to justice.