The Ogun State Police Command has arrested Adewale Arojah for allegedly impersonating a cleric on Facebook and defrauding victims in Nigeria and abroad of more than N18 million.
The command’s spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abeokuta.
According to Babaseyi, the police launched an investigation after a complaint filed on October 3 by Muyiwa Akogun, popularly known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr. Muyiwa Akogun.”
Akogun reportedly alerted the police after members of the public complained about fraudulent activities linked to a duplicate Facebook account allegedly created using his identity.
Following intelligence gathering and technological monitoring, operatives of the Ilaro Division tracked Arojah, described as Akogun’s spiritual son, to a village in Ajegunle along the Ilaro/Ibogun axis, where they arrested him.
The police spokesperson said the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation to impersonating Akogun and using his identity to offer fake prophecies and prayer services to unsuspecting victims.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect targeted people seeking spiritual assistance through the cleric’s Facebook page and allegedly defrauded victims in Nigeria and abroad of over N18 million,” Babaseyi said.
The police have since transferred Arojah to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Babaseyi said investigators would establish the full extent of the alleged offences and determine whether other individuals were involved.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro Division operatives for the arrest and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling cybercrime and identity theft across the state.
The police also urged members of the public to verify social media accounts belonging to religious leaders and other public figures before communicating with them or sending money for spiritual services.
Residents were further advised to report suspected cases of cybercrime and impersonation through the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464.
