Offer N66m Bribe to Secure Freedom
The Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police, Onikan, Lagos, has apprehended two suspected international fraudsters known for forging certificates from various international and African universities. The suspects, Elvis Osakpolo Edokpain (23) and Kelly Osas Endgieen (24), were arrested following credible intelligence.
The duo allegedly used forged documents to defraud unsuspecting victims online, accumulating wealth used to acquire exotic cars and properties across Nigeria
Police sources revealed that the arrest followed a directive from the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayode, who ordered an investigation into a group allegedly involved in certificate forgery. Acting on intelligence, officers from the Anti-Corruption Unit trailed the suspects to a five-star hotel in Lekki, Lagos, and apprehended them as they attempted to flee.
A search of their luggage uncovered forged certificates, including a degree certificate from Blue Crest College, Ghana, a student identity card from Academic City College, and other falsified academic documents. During interrogation, the suspects admitted they procured the certificates for N1.5 million through a Nigerian intermediary in Ghana to secure residence permits falsely identifying them as students.
The suspects confessed to being involved in multiple scams, including online romance fraud and using foreign bank accounts for illicit transactions. They impersonated a U.S. Army captain named Donald Rowe, allegedly on a peacekeeping mission in Syria, to deceive victims into paying for fictitious goods.
Their victims, mainly from Japan, Denmark, and China, were lured through social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, where the suspects showcased fake merchandise from Syria. Payments were collected via blockchain wallets or foreign bank accounts and later funneled into Nigerian accounts.
In a dramatic twist, the suspects attempted to bribe the police with N66 million to secure their release. The police, under AIG Fayode’s directive, played along and recovered the money as evidence. The development follows a recent incident where other fraud suspects offered N174 million as a bribe to Zone 2 detectives.
The Nigeria Police have contacted the Ghanaian embassy and Interpol to investigate the suspects’ alleged accomplices in Ghana and other countries, including the United Kingdom and South Africa.
The suspects, who claimed to have only completed secondary school in Benin City, attributed their involvement in fraud to poverty. They expressed regret, urging Nigerian youths to avoid shortcuts and embrace hard work.
The police are intensifying efforts to dismantle the suspects’ network while investigating their international connections. The arrested duo will be charged in court soon.