Lagos – The Police in Lagos State on Monday said they had arrested two men who allegedly defrauded three victims of N6.5 million with a promise to double their money.
The Police Commissioner in the state, Edgal Imohimi, confirmed the arrest while presenting the suspects to journalists in Lagos.
Imohimi said the police acted on information by members of the public on the activities of the suspects before effecting the arrest.
He said that the police got information about some group of persons going round the metropolis, defrauding innocent citizens of their hard-earned money and promising to double their money through spiritual means.
“Based on the information, operatives from FSARS Ikeja and the Command’s operatives swung into action and arrested two suspected fraudsters at Nglasia Hotel, Ilasa, Lagos.
“They were immediately searched and the police recovered from them two gallons of liquid labelled “Solen point”, cash stack of US Dollars suspected to be fake and Platinum Brokers International Incorporation documents.
“During interrogation, they confessed to have committed the crime and added that they are professional dupes. That once they are able to bring out the greed in any person, he becomes an easy prey.
“It was discovered that the suspects have so far defrauded one Victoria Awoniyi of the sum of N5.7 million, Taiwo Kayode of N300,000 and Adebisi Adebayo of N500,000.
“Investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting other members of their syndicate for prosecution.” he said.
In a similar development, five other suspects were arrested for allegedly diverting 238 pieces of Air Conditioning sets.
According to the commissioner, the command’s Intelligence Unit got information that an unspecified number of air-conditioners believed to be stolen from its owner were being off-loaded in to a warehouse at Iyana-Ira area of the state.
He said the Intelligence gathered was subsequently passed to FSARS Operatives for action, stressing that the operatives went to Iyana-Ira, a suburb of Lagos, located the warehouse and arrested five suspects.
He said the warehouse where the air-conditioners were kept was immediately searched and a total of 238 pieces of Royal Air-Conditioner products were recovered.
“During interrogation, they confessed that they stole the goods and mentioned one Francis as their ring leader and the owner of the truck used in conveying the stolen items
“In the course of investigation, the operatives went to Sango Otta and recovered the said vehicle, a Mack truck, unregistered, where it was parked for sale.
“Investigation is ongoing with a view to arresting other suspects still at large for prosecution.
“At this juncture, I wish to call on anybody or company with legitimate claim to the goods to come forward with proof of ownership,” he said.
(NAN)