The Zone-2 Police Command in Lagos has nabbed two suspected international fraudsters accused of fabricating foreign certificates in Lagos State and Ghana.
In a brave action that demonstrated their integrity, the police officers declined a bribe offer of N66 million from the accused.
AIG Adegoke Fayoade, who leads 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.
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 nefarious activities, acquiring luxury cars and properties across the country.
However, 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.
After a search of the suspects’ belongings, a certificate from Blue Crest College, Ghana, linked to Elvis; a student identity card from Academic City College, Ghana, belonging to Kelly; and additional documents, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, all forged to obtain Ghanaian resident permits under false pretences, were discovered.
The suspects confessed to paying 26,000 Ghanaian 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.
The Zone-2 Command has contacted the Ghanaian Embassy and Interpol to locate the suspects’ accomplices and verify the veracity of the confiscated documents.
“This case highlights our commitment to integrity and justice. We are determined to dismantle the network of fraudsters operating across borders,” Fayoade concluded.
