Ondo: Police Arrest Two Cyber Fraud Suspects in N11m Scam

Men of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested two suspected fraudsters in separate cases involving cybercrime, obtaining money by false pretence, and stealing by conversion, amounting to a total of ₦11 million.

The Police State Commissioner, Adebowale Lawal, revealed this while presenting the accused to reporters at the Command Headquarters in Akure.

As stated by the Police chief, the arrests formed part of the Command’s renewed dedication to identifying, apprehending, and bringing to trial those who exploit technology and trickery to defraud innocent members of the public.

The CP explained that the first suspect, Ayodeji Oluwapelumi Samuel, a young man in his late twenties, was arrested for offences bordering on cyber fraud, obtaining money by false pretence, and stealing by conversion.

He mentioned that Samuel’s arrest came after a complaint from a retired senior police officer, who stated that her WhatsApp account was hacked and utilized by the suspect and his collaborators to defraud her colleagues.

The unsuspecting contacts, believing they were chatting with the retired officer, transferred different sums of money at various times to the account details provided by the suspect, saying the total amount obtained through this deceit exceeded ₦1million.

He mentioned that “After receiving the complaint, detectives from the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) started an investigation right away.”

They requested and received a Bankers’ Order from the court regarding the PalmPay account utilized by the suspect to collect the fraudulent funds.

As per his statement, the PalmPay compliance department supplied key details that uncovered the complete profile of the suspect, including his registered phone number and transaction records.

He stated, “This information allowed agents to follow his digital footprint and monitor his travels between states.”

The police chief mentioned that a well-planned operation was subsequently carried out in Ibillo/Ososo, within the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, where agents arrested the suspect.

The individual under suspicion was allegedly discovered with damaging evidence, such as SIM cards, several ATM cards, and a mobile phone holding records of illegal financial activities.

Further examinations showed that the suspect was not working by himself but had colluded with additional individuals who remain at large. The police have initiated a search to capture the escaping members of the organization and retrieve the stolen assets.

“The Command is committed to breaking up these cybercriminal networks and will keep using technology, information exchange, and cooperation between agencies to make sure that scammers have nowhere to hide inside or outside Ondo State,” the CP stated.

In a comparable situation, the Command also detained another individual, Adekugbe Moses, 29 years old, for allegedly acquiring ₦10 million through deceptive means.

The Commissioner stated that on January 10, 2025, Engineer Adekunle Adesina filed a report claiming that the suspect deceived him by pretending to supply premium laboratory equipment, such as an Agfa Drystar 5302, Shimaozo Mobile X-Ray, and Digitizers.

The police chief stated that the suspect, pretending to be a real supplier, supposedly provided realistic documents, invoices, and proforma quotes to trick the victim into thinking the deal was genuine.

The individual, following receipt of a payment amounting to ₦10 million, fled to Lagos State, severed all contact, and utilized the funds for personal purposes.

After the report, the CP mentioned that detectives from the State CID conducted a thorough investigation, tracing the suspect’s movements via his bank statements and phone records, leading to his arrest and detention in Lagos.

Adekugbe, nevertheless, admitted to the offense during the trial, acknowledging that he never intended to obtain or deliver any of the promised equipment and disclosed that he used some of the funds on luxury purchases and personal expenses.

CP Lawal stated that the suspect is expected to appear in court shortly, noting that the Command has collected enough evidence to guarantee his conviction.

“The arrests make it evident that the Ondo State Police Command will not accept economic and cyber-related offenses. The legal system will fully address anyone trying to take advantage of innocent people using fraud and technology,” Lawal stated.

He also praised the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for its hard work, intelligence collection, and application of advanced forensic technologies in following the suspects across different states.

The CP advised locals to stay alert and doubtful about online deals or unexpected money-related requests, even if these messages seem to originate from known sources.

He recommended that people confirm by making phone calls before transferring funds or sharing personal details with anyone online, and added, “We are urging the public to report any unusual activities immediately. Cybercrime relies on lack of knowledge and trust; individuals should learn to check before making transactions.”

He pledged that the Command will continue to be firm in its goal of making Ondo State dangerous for criminals and safe for law-abiding residents by using active intelligence collection, cooperation with the community, and online monitoring.

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