Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni
The police in Lagos have arrested a
polytechnic student, Obinna Collins, who allegedly impersonated the
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to defraud some
members of the public.
polytechnic student, Obinna Collins, who allegedly impersonated the
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to defraud some
members of the public.
PUNCH newspaper reports that 21-year-old Collins allegedly opened a fake Facebook account in the name of the CP, through which he solicited funds to run a non-existent charity.
Collins, who claimed to be an Electrical Engineering student of the
polytechnic, said he had defrauded only one victim before his arrest.
polytechnic, said he had defrauded only one victim before his arrest.
He told Punch thus, “I opened a Facebook
account for the Lagos CP in September. I chose the CP of Lagos because I
knew it was a popular office. I opened the account as a means to
sustain my studies. I opened it to help myself in school. I only
defrauded a woman. She sent N20,000 to my bank account.
account for the Lagos CP in September. I chose the CP of Lagos because I
knew it was a popular office. I opened the account as a means to
sustain my studies. I opened it to help myself in school. I only
defrauded a woman. She sent N20,000 to my bank account.
“The lady’s name is Ronke. She said she
wanted to date the Commissioner of Police, and she wanted to also meet
me. She added that she had feelings for me. I told her that I run a
charity and had a group of boys that I sponsored their education. So, I
asked her to send in a support and she sent the money.
wanted to date the Commissioner of Police, and she wanted to also meet
me. She added that she had feelings for me. I told her that I run a
charity and had a group of boys that I sponsored their education. So, I
asked her to send in a support and she sent the money.
“I was arrested by the police at a
filling station in Ikeja. I did not know the lady had reported me after
paying the money. I came to the area to meet her and I was arrested.
filling station in Ikeja. I did not know the lady had reported me after
paying the money. I came to the area to meet her and I was arrested.
“Now, I feel guilty that I went into this.”
Our correspondent gathered that the
suspect, who allegedly uploaded the photo of the Lagos CP and a welcome
speech, had reached out to members of the public to send in money to his
charity.
suspect, who allegedly uploaded the photo of the Lagos CP and a welcome
speech, had reached out to members of the public to send in money to his
charity.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai
Owoseni, said he did not operate on the social media, but only on the
official police platforms.
Owoseni, said he did not operate on the social media, but only on the
official police platforms.
He said, “I have never operated a Facebook account
and I will not. You can only find me on official police platforms which
are on our booklets. Members of the public should be wary of impostors
who want to defraud them by dropping names.”
and I will not. You can only find me on official police platforms which
are on our booklets. Members of the public should be wary of impostors
who want to defraud them by dropping names.”