The Nigeria Police Force, through its INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja, has apprehended two suspects linked to significant investment fraud and cybercrime involving over $210,000 and ₦452 million. Robert Harms, a Canadian national, was arrested for orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme targeting Tepison Enterprises in Akwa Ibom State. According to police, Harms convinced the company to invest $210,000 in a fictitious Waste-to-Energy project in Canada, promising a $30,000 return within four weeks that never materialized. Investigations uncovered that Harms fabricated project documents and transferred the funds to an account in Dubai. He was arrested on February 7, 2025, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while attempting to flee the country. Harms has since been arraigned and remanded at the Uyo Custodial Centre. In a separate operation, Okeke Ogechi Njaka, a Nigerian woman, was re-arrested for multiple cybercrime offenses, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and fraud involving her NGO, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation. The foundation allegedly obtained ₦452,821,982 through a medical assistance scam. Njaka had initially been arrested in January 2025 but absconded after jumping bail. She was recaptured on May 8, 2025, in Abuja and is set to be arraigned before the Federal High Court. The Nigeria Police Force, led by Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed its commitment to combating transnational financial crimes and urged the public to exercise caution when engaging in high-value international transactions. “The arrests demonstrate our unwavering resolve to tackle financial and cyber-related threats,” said Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Headquarters Public Relations Officer. Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies to aid ongoing efforts against financial crimes.
NDLEA arrests woman smuggling cocaine at Port Harcourt Airport
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a woman attempting to smuggle more than two kilograms of cocaine to Iran through Port Harcourt International Airport. Ihensekhien Miracle Obehi was detained on Sunday, May 11, as she prepared to board a Qatar Airways flight to Iran via Doha. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, Obehi concealed the drugs in multiple ways: three wraps were hidden in her private part, two parcels were stashed in a false bottom of her handbag, and she had swallowed 67 pellets of cocaine. “During her search, she was found to have inserted three wraps of cocaine into her private part, with two large parcels hidden in false compartments of her handbag, while she had also swallowed 67 pellets of the Class A drug,” Babafemi said. Obehi told investigators she intended to swallow 70 pellets but could not continue after 67, prompting her to hide the remaining three internally. The total weight of the cocaine seized was 2.523 kilograms. The NDLEA placed Obehi under observation, and over several days she expelled all 67 pellets. The agency says this arrest is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt drug trafficking through Nigeria’s airports. In related operations, NDLEA officers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, intercepted a British national with 37.6 kilograms of cannabis and seized large quantities of other illicit drugs in Lagos, Kaduna, Kwara, Bauchi, and Kano states. NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired) praised officers for their vigilance and commitment to reducing drug trafficking and abuse nationwide. The agency continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign, conducting sensitization programs in schools and communities across the country.
Nigerian health worker falls victim to fake online UN job scam
A Nigerian health worker recently shared a cautionary tale about falling prey to a sophisticated job scam impersonating the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria. The victim, known on social media as @Drkachitech, received an email claiming that he is qualified for an Administrative Assistant position with FAO Nigeria, offering a monthly salary exceeding $3,000. The email, complete with official-sounding job titles, reference numbers, and urgent calls to action, appeared legitimate and compelled him to respond with his updated CV. Days later, he received a congratulatory email with a fake Letter of Appointment and UN Staff Rules document. The scammers then requested payment of $99 for a so-called QREDIV® Certificate, a fabricated requirement for diversity and inclusion training. Believing this to be a minor, reimbursable expense, the victim wired the money via cryptocurrency, only to realize later that the entire recruitment process was fraudulent. The scammer’s tactics included the use of realistic emails, official-looking documents, and even a real UN security training certificate (BSAFE) to build trust. However, no real interviews were conducted, and no official FAO channels confirmed the recruitment. Attempts to verify the QREDIV certificate and the job offer through FAO’s official platforms yielded no results. FAO Nigeria has since issued a disclaimer warning the public about these fake job advertisements, emphasizing that it does not solicit payments or personal information during recruitment. They urged job seekers to verify all openings exclusively through their official careers portal. Experts say this scam exemplifies how criminals exploit technological advances, including artificial intelligence, to craft convincing fraudulent job offers. Scammers often target job seekers in countries with high unemployment, using urgency and high salary promises to lure victims. To protect against such scams, job seekers are advised to: Independently verify the legitimacy of job offers through official company websites. Be skeptical of unsolicited job invitations. Avoid paying any fees during the recruitment process. Limit sharing of sensitive personal information. Recognize red flags such as requests for payment, lack of interviews, and poor communication transparency. The psychological toll of such scams can be severe, as victims lose not only money but also time, hope, and trust. As job scams continue to evolve, vigilance and thorough verification remain the best defense for job seekers navigating today’s digital employment landscape.
Appeal court upholds seven-year jail term for ex-GTB staff in N50 million loan fraud
The Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal has confirmed the seven-year imprisonment of Onyekachi Nwosu, a former Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) employee, for his role in a N50 million loan fraud. Nwosu was found guilty of using forged documents to secure a loan for Floxy Aluminum Odiofele Products Limited, falsely claiming that a property was pledged as collateral. Investigations revealed that Nwosu personally withdrew N40 million from the loan amount, which was part of the fraudulent scheme. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Nwosu on charges including forgery and obtaining money by false pretence. After a trial in 2021, the Federal High Court convicted him, a judgment he appealed. However, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Zainab Abubakar, upheld the conviction related to the N40 million withdrawal, citing Nwosu’s own admission as evidence. The court set aside other counts but maintained the key conviction, affirming the sentence. This ruling shows the judiciary’s firm stance against financial crimes within Nigeria’s banking sector. The EFCC continues to pursue accountability in similar cases to safeguard the integrity of the financial system.
Man arrested in Lagos with 27 SIM cards, allegedly pretending to be mentally unstable
Security operatives from the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) have arrested a man identified as Godwin, who was found in possession of 27 registered SIM cards while reportedly pretending to be mentally unstable. The arrest followed more than a month of surveillance after residents reported suspicious activities in the Epe area of Lagos. Godwin, who hails from Ughelli Local Government Area in Delta State, was discovered taking refuge in an abandoned security post near a T-junction. Residents had observed him frequently changing clothes early in the morning and engaging in late-night phone calls, behavior that raised concerns despite his disheveled appearance. During a routine patrol on May 5, LNSC officers found Godwin absent from his usual location. Upon searching the abandoned structure, they uncovered 27 SIM cards hidden inside a block wall. Godwin was arrested shortly after he returned to the spot. While he confirmed his identity during questioning, he declined to reveal the location of any mobile phones linked to the SIM cards. A local food vendor who interacted with Godwin noted that despite his erratic behavior, he often appeared mentally alert and coherent. Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest and said preliminary investigations suggest the man may be mentally unstable and homeless. However, he emphasized that there is currently no evidence linking Godwin to any criminal activities such as kidnapping, describing such claims as baseless. Authorities are continuing their investigations to understand the full circumstances surrounding the case.
EFCC faces backlash over mistaken identity in CBEX fraud case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is under scrutiny after mistakenly declaring Elie Bitar, a Lebanese businessman, wanted in connection with the notorious Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) cryptocurrency fraud. Investigations by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) have revealed that Bitar had no links to the collapsed scheme that wiped out billions of naira in Nigerian investors’ funds. In April, the EFCC published a bulletin naming Bitar as a suspect in the CBEX fraud, sparking public outrage and damaging his reputation. The commission stated that Bitar was wanted for his alleged role in the online platform’s operations. However, fresh evidence shows that the CBEX in question-a fraudulent cryptocurrency operation-was entirely unrelated to Bitar’s business activities. Bitar is the co-founder of CBEX Solutions Limited, a company registered in 2018 and focused on retail studies for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. The company became inactive in 2020, long before the CBEX crypto scheme emerged. The name “CBEX” in Bitar’s company was simply an acronym formed from the initials of its founders, not a reference to Crypto Bridge Exchange. Legal representatives for Bitar have since written to the EFCC, demanding that his name be cleared and a public apology issued. “Elie Bitar has no connection whatsoever to the Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX) in question and the online official bulletin issued by the EFCC has tremendously defamed him worldwide,” the letter stated. The lawyers argue that the EFCC failed to conduct proper due diligence before making the public declaration, a misstep that has caused significant distress to Bitar and his business associates. Cases of mistaken identity in law enforcement are not uncommon and can have severe consequences, from reputational damage to legal and financial hardship. In similar incidents worldwide, innocent individuals have faced arrest, jail time, and years of legal battles simply because their names or details matched those of actual suspects.