EFCC Arrests Football Agent over Alleged N11m Fraud

EFCC Arrests Football Agent over Alleged N11m Fraud

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a suspected fraudster, Osagie Destiny Etinosa, for allegedly obtaining N11 million under false pretence.

The arrest was carried out by officers of the commission’s Benin Zonal Directorate, following intelligence gathered through open source investigations.

According to a statement signed by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the suspect had been posing as a football agent on Instagram, using the handle @officialking_etto, where he claimed to facilitate trials and contracts for aspiring footballers in foreign clubs.

The commission said Etinosa allegedly deceived victims by presenting himself as a link between local players and European teams.

In one of the cases cited, he reportedly collected N11 million from a victim, Samuel Beke Ohazuruike, with a promise to secure trial opportunities with clubs in Romania and Bulgaria.

The EFCC said the promised trials never materialised, while efforts by the victim to recover the funds were unsuccessful.

“The suspect, who was arrested through open source intelligence, had been parading himself as a football agent specialising in linking footballers with foreign clubs for trials and recruitment,” the statement said.

The anti-graft agency added that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.