A 61-year-old man, Olukunle Adesola, who has been impersonating as a legal practitioner and senior police officer to defraud unsuspecting victims, has been arrested by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command
The command’s spokeswoman, DSP Josephine Adeh, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, said that Adesola, a resident of Liberty Estate, Spring Road, AMAC Abuja, was arrested on Sunday, November 20, in a church by the command’s operatives attached to the anti-violence crime section of the State Criminal Investigation Department.
This followed series of petitions and reports at various formations and units of the police command, with scores of unsuspecting worshippers reportedly defrauded.
DSP Adeh disclosed the suspect’s modus operandi as presenting himself as a senior police officer within the ranks of Commissioner and Assistant Inspector General of Police, top-ranking EFCC official, or a legal practitioner who owns a law firm by the name Dr Kunle Odeshola & Associates.
The suspect was said to have has successfully defrauded many victims to the tune of about N10 million.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to have started the impersonation since 1980.
Exhibits recovered from him included several forged documents, unissued police gear, tear gas canisters and forged academic documents from various learning institutions.
“While discreet investigation and effort to apprehend co-perpetrators of this criminal enterprise are ongoing, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Babaji Sunday wishes to categorically state that the suspect has absolutely no past or present affiliation with the police in status or otherwise and at any level.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to be wary of such elements who parade themselves in such a manner to defraud members of the public.
“The CP also wishes to reaffirm the Command’s commitment to bringing crime and criminality in all forms and expressions to the barest minimum.
“While painstaking effort is ongoing to ensure the above, members of the public are therefore urged to maintain vigilance and report suspicious activities to the police through the following emergency numbers: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.
“The Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached at 0902 222 2352,” the PPRO said.
