Police Nab 23 Foreigners Over Alleged Ponzi Scheme, Visa Fraud in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 23 foreign nationals over alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences in the Ota area of the state.

The suspects were apprehended on August 4 by operatives of the Atan-Ota Division following intelligence on alleged fraudulent activities being carried out from a gated residential property within an estate off Iyana Iyesi, Onipanu-Ota.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the arrests on Monday, saying the operation was carried out after the police received credible information about the activities at the location.

He said the operatives moved in at about 11am, secured the premises and arrested the 23 foreign nationals for investigation.

According to him, a Malian international passport bearing the name Diakite Alfousseini was also recovered during the operation.

Babaseyi said preliminary investigation led to 21 of the suspects being handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation into possible immigration violations.

The remaining two suspects, he said, were retained by the police for possible prosecution over alleged obtaining by false pretence and related offences.

He said the investigation would also determine the full extent of the alleged fraudulent operation and establish whether other persons were involved.

“Investigation is ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent activities and identify any other persons connected with the scheme,” the police spokesperson said.

The command’s latest operation comes amid heightened scrutiny of fraudulent schemes that target unsuspecting members of the public, particularly through promises of quick financial returns and questionable immigration arrangements.

In a separate operation, police operatives attached to the Itele Division arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered a locally fabricated cut-to-size double-barrel pistol and other items.

The suspect, identified as Babatunde Olasunkanmi, was allegedly involved in an attempted robbery of a commercial motorcyclist along the Orji Block area of Itele.

The incident occurred at about 12:48am on August 3 after the motorcyclist reportedly raised an alarm that two passengers he had picked up at Three Crown Bus Stop had attempted to rob him at gunpoint.

Responding to the distress call, police operatives moved to the area and arrested Olasunkanmi, who was allegedly armed with the locally fabricated pistol.

His accomplice, however, reportedly escaped with the victim’s red Bajaj motorcycle.

The police also recovered criminal charms, a Tecno Android phone and a UBA Automated Teller Machine card from the arrested suspect.

Babaseyi said efforts were underway to apprehend the fleeing suspect, while the arrested man and the recovered exhibits would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet investigation.

The Command said the two cases remained under investigation.