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Police arrest Canadian, Nigerian over N452m, $210,000 fraud

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The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two high-profile suspects for their alleged roles in a series of cyber and financial crimes, including a $210,000 investment scam and a N452 million charity fraud scheme.

In a statement released by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Monday, the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja confirmed the arrests of Robert Harms, a Canadian national, and Ms. Okeke Njaka, a Nigerian, in separate operations coordinated by INTERPOL operatives.

Robert Harms was arrested over a fraudulent investment scheme targeting Tepison Enterprises, a company based in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.

Acting on a petition filed by the firm, police investigations revealed that Harms was introduced to the company through a Polaris Bank account officer in June 2023.

He allegedly convinced Tepison Enterprises to invest $210,000 in a fake Waste-to-Energy Project in Canada by promising a $30,000 return within four weeks.

“Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated ‘capital project bond,’” the police said.

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Further investigation revealed that Harms had forged a “Project Bridge Loan Agreement” and transferred the funds through a Bureau de Change in Abuja to an account in Dubai.

He also falsely claimed affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, a claim denied by the company’s CEO.

“Further inquiries confirmed that Harms had no legitimate affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited,” the statement said.

Harms was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on February 7, 2025, while attempting to flee to Canada.

He reportedly admitted to receiving the money and violating the investment agreement.

He was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Uyo, on May 9, 2025, after criminal charges were filed on April 22. The court ordered that he be remanded in Uyo Custodial Centre, with the case adjourned to May 20, 2025.

In a related development, INTERPOL re-arrested Ms. Okeke Njaka, who is wanted for cybercrimes and large-scale financial fraud.

Njaka was first arrested in Anambra on January 4, 2025, over allegations including cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and obtaining money under false pretences. She later jumped bail and went into hiding.

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“Investigations revealed Njaka’s active involvement in cyberstalking and cyberbullying through multiple social media platforms, where she maliciously distributed nude photos and videos of her victims,” the police said.

Njaka was declared wanted in 2021 via a Special Police Gazette Bulletin and was re-arrested on May 8, 2025, in Abuja.

She is scheduled to be arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Njaka’s non-governmental organisation, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, is also under prosecution for its alleged role in defrauding the public of N452,821,982 in a fake medical assistance scheme.

The foundation, alongside its associates, Emeka Ezeogbo and Tolotolo Family Foundation, is facing prosecution at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Reaffirming the commitment of the police to fight cyber and financial crime, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, urged Nigerians to be cautious in international business dealings.

“The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP kayode Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM once again emphasises its unyielding resolve to combatting all forms of transnational financial crimes and urges members of the public to exercise utmost caution and due diligence before entering into high-value international agreements and to promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies,” the statement read.

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The police encouraged the public to conduct due diligence before entering into major transactions and to report any suspicious activities promptly.

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Gunmen attack church in Ekiti, kill pastor, abduct worshippers

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Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen have attacked a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers.


According to reports, the attack, which occurred during a church programme on Tuesday night, has thrown the community into panic, with residents expressing fears over rising insecurity in the area.


Sources in the community said the assailants, who were armed and arrived in numbers, stormed the church located on the outskirts of the town, shot the pastor dead and whisked away several worshippers into a nearby forest.


Sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of abducted victims.


“The invaders were many. They killed the pastor and took away some worshippers. We cannot say the number yet. Moves to collate those who are missing have begun. The community is in a panic mode for now,” the source said.

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The Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti state, Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the incident, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, has ordered a thorough investigation and a manhunt for the perpetrators.


“The Police in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, the Agro Marshal, the Vigilantes and the local hunters have commenced an aggressive bush combing operations and a serious manhunt on the perpetrators in order to ensure the rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of the culprits,” Abutu said.


He added that the police were working to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible.



“The commissioner of Police calls for calm as necessary steps are currently being taken to salvage the situation and forestall recurrence.


“Members of the public are charged to be security conscious, vigilant and promptly report any suspicious person or group of persons found within their environments to the police and other security agencies for necessary proactive actions,” he added.

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Abutu also advised religious leaders to notify the police before organising late-night gatherings to enable adequate security arrangements.


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Couple beats adopted daughter to death in Lagos

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The Igando community in Lagos state  has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of a 10-year-old girl, who was allegedly beaten to death by her adopted parents, Paul Onyeama and Adline Ogbonna.

According to reports, the incident occurred on Sunday, following weeks of alleged abuse.

The couple, who lived on Jemesi Papa Street, reportedly subjected the minor to persistent maltreatment, including frequent assaults and sending her on strenuous errands despite her young age.

The girl, identified as Faith, was said to have fallen ill for about two weeks, but the alleged abuse reportedly continued unabated.

A resident of the area, said the situation escalated on Sunday when the husband and wife were said to have severely beaten the ailing child, leading to her death.

He said, “The couple had adopted a 10-year-old girl. They had been consistently maltreating and assaulting the child, while also sending her on unnecessary errands.

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“I was informed that the girl had been sick for about two weeks, yet the abuse continued. Yesterday, both the husband and wife allegedly beat the child severely despite her condition, and sadly, she died.”

It was gathered that the suspects later rushed the victim to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival.

Youths in the area, who were reportedly angered by the development, apprehended the woman.

The husband had allegedly left home earlier to procure a tricycle to dispose of the girl’s corpse, was also held by the youths.

“The moment the girl died, they kept her corpse in the room and acted as though nothing had happened. The wife even came out this morning to cook in the kitchen like nothing had happened.

“It was residents who had been observing what was going on that raised the alarm about the whereabouts of the girl before they discovered that she had died. If they had succeeded in disposing of the body, no one would have known her whereabouts,” a resident said.

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Police operatives were thereafter deployed to the scene, leading to the arrest of the couple and the recovery of the child’s body.

“Our preliminary findings revealed that the child was already dead before she was brought to the medical facility. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, for further investigation,” a source said.

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EFCC arrests Cameroonian businessman for alleged ₦1.5bn bank fraud in Lagos

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Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested a Cameroonian businessman, Bekono Eric, for allegedly defrauding a first-generation bank of about N1.5bn.

A statement by Dele Oyewale, the Commission’s spokesperson, described the 47-year-old suspect as a member of a suspected trans-border syndicate that allegedly specialises in credit card fraud.

He was arrested on Thursday, April 23, 2026, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

According to the EFCC, investigations revealed that members of the suspected syndicate allegedly open bank accounts in Nigeria, obtain Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards and PINs, and then move to neighbouring countries where they allegedly used the cards to carry out fraudulent transactions on accounts belonging to customers with high balances.

The suspect will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded.

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