DSS arrests, parades Osinbajo, Aisha Buhari’s impersonators for internet fraud

FOR allegedly using the names of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and that of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, two suspected internet fraudsters were on Wednesday paraded by the Edo State Command of the Department of State Service (DSS).

The Deputy Director (Security Enforcement) of DSS, Galadima Byange, who paraded the suspects before journalists gave the names of the suspects as Amos Ehis  Asuelimen, a 30-year-old Business Administration student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, and 18-year-old Kelvin Godwin Ogashi.

DSS said Asuelimen, created a fictitious Facebook account in the name of Vice President Osinbajo to scam unsuspecting victims.

The suspect who confessed defrauding not less than five persons said his modus operandi was to convince his potential victims to send money and recharge cards to process their registration and subsequent eligibility for a loan of N100, 000 each.

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Asuelimen said “I am not Osinbajo. I am a student of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, from the Department of Business Administration. I am a final year student. I should have been a graduate by now but I am having an issue, that is project inconclusive.

“My parents are not aware and nobody is aware that I’m doing fraud. I am into fraud because I was thinking I can get money to pay my fees and complete my degree course in Business Administration,” he said.

On his part, the teenage Godwin Ogashi, who claimed to be a fashion designer, was arrested for allegedly impersonating Mrs Buhari on an Instagram account with which he defrauded his victims.

He said he created the Instagram account in May 2019, with a message that the First Lady was empowering Nigerian youths with cash to start up their businesses and that interested persons were required to register with money.

“This is my first time doing it. I was a fashion designer, but there was no money for me to start up my own shop that is why,” Ogashi said.

The DSS Deputy Director, Mr. Byange, warned youths to desist from engaging in or contemplating fraudulent​ acts, adding that there is no short cut to wealth, advising that they should instead engage in decent​ and productive venture or risk being guests of law enforcement agencies.