A 40-year-old man, Sunday Otu, has been arrested by the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) for defrauding unsuspecting members of the public with forged Taskforce release orders.
Otu, a Cross River State indigene residing at 51, Agboyi Road, Ketu, was apprehended after he fraudulently obtained ₦60,000 from one Mr. Sunday Daniel (also known as Daniel Jackson), aged 35 and of 1, Tollgate Estate, Ogun State.
The Lagos Taskforce Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem said in a statement on Thursday, October 2, that the victim, who was earlier accosted for driving against traffic, was promised by the impostor that he could secure the release of his vehicle through his “connections” at the cost of ₦90,000.
“Daniel made an initial transfer of ₦60,000 with an agreement to pay the balance upon the issuance of a release order.
“Investigations revealed that Otu forged the Taskforce release order himself and lured the victim to follow him to the Agency’s car park in Alausa, where he was eventually arrested.
“Further interrogation exposed his involvement in a similar fraudulent case some weeks earlier, after which the Agency had been on his trail,” the Lagos Taskforce spokesman revealed.
Thenewsbearer learnt that following the suspect’s arrest, several incriminating items were recovered from him, including multiple forged release order booklets, a green biro, staple pins, staplers, and vehicle registration numbers.
Abdulraheem stated further that during interrogation, Otu confessed that one accomplice, identified as Afix (currently at large), was also involved in the fraudulent activities.
In an update, the Lagos Taskforce spokesman said that the impostor had been charged to court, where he pleaded guilty.
He was sentenced to four years, five months jail term, to be served in Badagry Correctional Centre.
Reacting to the incident, the Taskforce Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, warned members of the public against dealing with touts or middlemen who parade themselves as agents of the Taskforce.
“Our enforcement terminates in the court, which is the only civilised way of settling disputes.
“Anyone who deals with impostors or touts does so at their own peril. We urge Lagosians to remain vigilant and always approach the Agency directly to avoid being defrauded by criminal elements who are wolves in the midst of innocent sheep,” he stated.
CSP Akerele further charged officers and men of the Agency to remain alert and vigilant in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the Agency will continue to fish out fraudulent elements impersonating government officials to extort unsuspecting citizens.
