The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has arrested one Mr. Sunday Otu, a 40-year-old impostor residing at No. 51 Agboyi Road, Ketu, and an indigene of Cross River State, for defrauding unsuspecting members of the public with forged Taskforce release orders.
Otu was apprehended after he fraudulently collected the sum of ₦60,000 from one Mr. Sunday Daniel (also known as Daniel Jackson), 35, of No. 1 Tollgate Estate, Ogun State.
The victim, who had earlier been accosted for driving against traffic, was deceived by the impostor who claimed he could facilitate the release of his vehicle through his “connections” for ₦90,000.
Daniel made an initial payment of ₦60,000 with an agreement to pay the balance upon receipt of the release order.
According to a statement by the agency’s Director, Public Affairs, Mr Abdulraheem Gbadeyanka, “Investigations revealed that Otu personally forged the Taskforce release order and lured the victim to the Agency’s car park in Alausa, where he was eventually arrested.
Further interrogation exposed his involvement in a similar fraudulent case weeks earlier, after which the agency had been on his trail.”Upon arrest, several incriminating items were recovered from him, including multiple forged release order booklets, a green biro, staples, staplers, and vehicle registration numbers.
Otu also confessed to working with an accomplice, identified as Afix, who is currently at large.He has since been arraigned before a court, where he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years and five months’ imprisonment at the Badagry Correctional Centre.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, warned members of the public against dealing with touts or middlemen who pose as Taskforce agents.
“Our enforcement terminates in the court, which is the only civilized way of settling disputes. Anyone who deals with impostors or touts does so at his 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.
Akerele also charged officers and men of the Agency to remain alert and vigilant in discharging their duties, stressing that the Taskforce will continue to identify and prosecute fraudulent elements impersonating government officials to extort unsuspecting citizens.
