Zone 2 nabs internet fraudster, fleeing robbery suspect

Police operatives attached to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Zone 2 command, Onikan Lagos, have arrested one Aghatise Davis Osasunmhese for his allegedinvolvement in an internet fraud running into millions of naira.

Metro learnt in a statement issued by the zone’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that the suspect was arrested on September 20 based on a petition that the suspect defrauded a United States of America-based Nigerian, one Dr J.O.S. Okeke through his cousin, Iloka Ndubuisi, to whom Okeke sent a sum of N5 million through First Bank Nigeria Plc. March 29, 2016.

According to the PPRO’s statement, the cousin received an email he presumed to have emanated from his uncle on March 30, instructing him to pay N500,000 into an account with United Bank for Africa, which was later discovered to belong to Osasunmhese, with a threat that if he didn’t, he would be  sued to court for the money he was owing  him.

Ndubuisi was said to have carried out the directive while he also received another mail the following day to pay another N750,000 to same account, which he obliged again.

Ndubuisi also told the police that he received a call on April 14 from one Chief Osifo, asking him to check his mail box for an instruction.

At this juncture, Ndubuisi said that he sensed something was amiss, prompting him to call his uncle to confirm if he actually sent the previous mails.

The victim said he was shocked when his uncle said he never sent any mail to him leading to the report of the matter at the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police for investigation.

Metro further gathered that in the course of investigation, the unit, in collaboration with the bank officials, was able to track down and arrest the suspect in Benin, Edo State.

The suspect was said to have confessed to the crime, disclosing that he belonged to a three-man internet fraud gang.

Items recovered from the suspect included a laptop, ATM cards of different banks belonging to one Blessedson Ehrahon, which the police detectives believed was being borne by the suspect.

Also, one Benjamin Udoh has been arrested through intelligence by the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the zone in continuation of an investigation into a case of armed robbery carried out by hoodlums at Tomez Group Limited, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos State, on August 8.

Udoh’s arrest also yielded the recovery of one Mitsubishi Fuso Truck with registration number GGE 537 XP belonging to the company. The suspect has since been charged to court.

The PPRO told Metro that the suspected fraudster would soon be arraigned in court while Udoh had been charged to court.

He added that the AIG in charge of the zone, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, had reiterated his zero tolerance for crimes and social vices within the zone, and had directed the Officer in charge of the Anti Kidnapping Unit of the zone to ensure the other members of these gangs were apprehended without delay.