Wednesday, October 21, 2026 -The Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected fraudsters for impersonating top government officials and defrauding a community leader of N5,475,000.
The spokesperson for the command, CSP Bright Edafe,
disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, October 102, 2026.
According to the PPRO, preliminary investigations linked the
suspects to a fraud syndicate that allegedly targeted unsuspecting members of
the public with promises of employment, political appointments and other
government privileges.
He said the suspects allegedly used SIM cards purportedly
registered in the names of top public officials to deceive their victims.
The identities of the public officials impersonated included
Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Chief Hon.
Onoriode Sunday, Director of Protocol to the Governor of Delta State; and Hon.
Prince Johnson Erijo, identified as Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta
State.
Edafe further revealed that the suspects impersonated the
Director of Protocol to the Governor of Delta State and defrauded a community
leader from Otu-Jeremi of N5,475,000, under the false pretence of facilitating
his appointment as President-General of the community.
“The Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected
members of a fraud syndicate allegedly involved in impersonating high-ranking
government officials and defrauding a community lear of to defraud
unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of securing employment,
political appointments and other government privileges,” the statement read.
"The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu (51),
Moses Exist (48) and Benjamin Owah (49), were arrested following an
investigation by detectives attached to the Area Command, Effurun.
"Preliminary findings revealed that the suspects
allegedly used SIM cards purportedly registered under the identities of
prominent public officials, including Senator George Akume, Secretary to the
Government of the Federation; Chief Hon. Onoriode Sunday, Director of Protocol
to the Governor of Delta State; andlki Hon. Prince Johnson Erijo, identified as
Chief of Staff to the Governor of Delta State, among others.
"They also allegedly exploited a caller-identification
application on mobile phones, which displays names associated with incoming
telephone numbers, to create the false impression that their calls originated
from the officials being impersonated.
"In one of their alleged operations, the suspects
impersonated the Director of Protocol to the Governor of DeltState and
defrauded a community leader from Otu-Jeremi of N5,475,000, under the false
pretence of facilitating his appointment as President-General of the
community.
"A search of the suspects' premises led to the recovery
of seven (7) mobile phones, seventeen (17) SIM cards, twelve (12) ATM cards
bearing different account holders' names, one (1) Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal
and documents containing financial and identification information belonging to
different individuals. Investigation is ongoing to identify other possible
victims and accomplices.
"CP Samuel E. Erale, psc, mnips, therefore cautions
members of the public against relying on caller-identification applications as
proof of a caller's identity, particularly where financial demands or promises
of government appointments are involved.
“He urged anyone who may have fallen victim to the suspects
or similar fraudulent schemes to come forward with credible information to
assist the investigation. The CP reaffirmed the Command's commitment to
combating fraud and ensuring that those found culpable are brought to
justice.”
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