Operatives 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 State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, disclosed this while parading the suspects before journalists at the Command Headquarters in Akure.

According to the Police boss, the arrests were part of the Command’s renewed commitment to tracking, arresting, and prosecuting individuals who use technology and deceit to defraud unsuspecting 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 said the arrest of Samuel followed a petition from a retired senior police officer, who reported that her WhatsApp account had been hacked and used by the suspect and his accomplices to defraud her associates.

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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 stated that “Upon receiving the complaint, detectives from the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) immediately commenced an investigation.

“They sought and obtained a Bankers’ Order from the court on the PalmPay account used by the suspect to receive the fraudulent payments.”

According to him, the PalmPay compliance unit provided crucial information that revealed the full details of the suspect’s profile, including his registered telephone number and transaction history.

He said, “This intelligence enabled operatives to trace his digital trail and track his movements across states.”

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The police boss said a carefully coordinated operation was later executed in Ibillo/Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, where operatives apprehended the suspect.

The suspect was reportedly found in possession of incriminating evidence, including SIM cards, multiple ATM cards, and a mobile device containing records of the fraudulent transactions.

“Further investigations revealed that the suspect did not act alone but conspired with other accomplices who are still at large. The police have since launched a manhunt to apprehend the fleeing members of the syndicate and recover proceeds of the crime.

“The Command is determined to dismantle these networks of cybercriminals and will continue to leverage technology, intelligence sharing, and inter-agency collaboration to ensure that fraudsters have no hiding place within or beyond Ondo State,” the CP declared.

In a similar case, the Command also arrested another suspect, Adekugbe Moses, aged 29, for allegedly obtaining ₦10 million under false pretence.

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The Commissioner explained that on January 10, 2025, one Engineer Adekunle Adesina lodged a complaint that the suspect defrauded him under the guise of supplying high-end laboratory equipment, including an Agfa Drystar 5302, Shimaozo Mobile X-Ray, and Digitizers.

The Police commissioner said the suspect, posing as a genuine supplier, allegedly presented convincing documents, invoices, and proforma quotations to deceive the victim into believing the transaction was legitimate.

The suspect after receiving the payment of ₦10 million, absconded to Lagos State, cut off all communication, and converted the money to his personal use.

Following the report, the CP said detectives from the State CID launched a painstaking investigation and tracked the suspect’s whereabouts through his bank transactions and telephone records and the suspect was eventually arrested and taken into custody in Lagos.

Adekugbe, however, confessed to the crime during the trial, admitting that he had no intention of procuring or delivering any of the promised equipment and revealed how he spent part of the money on luxury items and personal expenses.

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CP Lawal confirmed that the suspect will soon be charged to court, adding that the Command has gathered sufficient evidence to ensure his successful prosecution.

“These arrests send a clear signal that the Ondo State Police Command will not tolerate economic and cyber-related crimes. The law will take its full course on anyone who attempts to exploit innocent citizens through deceit and technology,” Lawal warned.

He also commended the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for its diligence, intelligence-gathering, and use of modern forensic tools in tracking the suspects across state lines.

The CP urged residents to remain vigilant and sceptical of online transactions or unsolicited financial requests, even when such messages appear to come from familiar contacts.

He advised the public to verify through phone calls before sending money or personal information to anyone online and said “We are appealing to the public always to report suspicious activities promptly. Cybercrime thrives on ignorance and trust; citizens must learn to verify before transacting.”

He assured that the Command remains steadfast in its mission to make Ondo State unsafe for criminals and secure for law-abiding citizens through proactive intelligence gathering, community collaboration, and digital surveillance.