By Chinasaokwu Helen Okoro
The Zone-2 Police Command in Lagos has apprehended two suspected international fraudsters allegedly involved in forging foreign certificates in Lagos and Ghana.In a bold move underscoring their integrity, the police operatives turned down a bribe offer of N66 million from the suspects.AIG Adegoke Fayoade, who heads the Zone-2 Command, confirmed the arrest on Monday.“These suspects, identified as Elvis, 23, and Kelly, 24, specialised in forging certificates from foreign institutions and African universities, deceiving unsuspecting victims online,” Fayoade disclosed to the News Agency of Nigeria.This commendable action by the Zone-2 Command is not an isolated incident.Rejected N174 million in NovemberNAN recalls that the same command rejected a bribe of N174 million in November from another suspect attempting to evade justice.The suspects reportedly amassed wealth from their illicit activities, acquiring luxury cars and properties across the country.Their luck ran out when detectives from the Anti-Corruption Unit received credible intelligence from Nigerians in the diaspora, leading to their apprehension.“The information revealed a group specialising in forging foreign certificates. Acting swiftly, we deployed detectives who tracked the suspects to a five-star hotel in Lekki, where they were apprehended while attempting to flee,” Fayoade narrated.Evidence recoveredA search of the suspects’ belongings yielded: a certificate from Blue Crest College, Ghana, linked to Elvis; a student identity card from Academic City College, Ghana, belonging to Kelly; additional documents, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, all forged to secure Ghanaian resident permits under false pretenses.The suspects confessed to paying 26,000 Ghana Cedis to a female Nigerian accomplice in Ghana to procure the fake documents.“They admitted the documents were solely for evading arrest in Ghana, where they had no legitimate means of livelihood,” Fayoade stated.Online fraud, bribe rejectedBeyond certificate forgery, the suspects were allegedly involved in elaborate online fraud schemes, including romance scams and providing foreign bank accounts for fraudulent transactions through a method known as “Facebook bombing.”“They impersonated a U.S. Army officer, Captain Donald Rowe, on Instagram, defrauding victims by claiming to be a soldier stationed in Syria,” Fayoade revealed.When the police intensified their investigation, the suspects attempted to negotiate their freedom by offering a bribe of N66 million.“I instructed my men to play along and secure the bribe money as evidence. The amount has been duly recorded as an exhibit,” Fayoade said.CollaborationsThe Zone-2 Command has reached out to the Ghanaian Embassy and Interpol to track down the suspects’ accomplices and confirm the authenticity of the recovered documents.“This case highlights our commitment to integrity and justice. We are determined to dismantle the network of fraudsters operating across borders,” Fayoade concluded.
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