Police Arrest International Fraudsters Specialising in Forging Foreign Certificates in Lagos
Precious Ugwuzor
Two suspected international fraudsters specialising in forging academic certificates from various international and African universities have been arrested by the police in Lagos.
The suspects, Elvis Osakpolo Edokpain, 23, and Kelly Osas Endgieen, 24, were apprehended by detectives from the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
The suspects, who also engage in internet scams, reportedly amassed wealth through fraudulent means, acquiring exotic cars and building mansions across the country.
According to police sources, the arrests followed credible intelligence about a syndicate forging foreign academic credentials.
Acting on this information, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayode, tasked the Anti-Corruption Unit with investigating and apprehending the culprits.
The suspects were trailed to a five-star hotel in Lekki after arriving at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. They were intercepted while attempting to escape.
A search of their luggage revealed forged documents, including a certificate from Blue Crest College, Ghana, a student ID card from Academic City College, and a fake transcript.
Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that they had never been admitted to the institutions and had procured the forged documents through a Nigerian contact in Ghana. The documents were used to obtain residency permits in Ghana, which they leveraged to evade law enforcement.
The suspects admitted to engaging in internet scams, including impersonating a U.S. Army captain on peacekeeping missions in Syria to defraud victims. They used tactics such as “Facebook bombing” to lure unsuspecting individuals into fraudulent schemes involving fake goods and foreign bank transactions. Their victims, primarily from Japan, Denmark, and China, were manipulated into sending money, which was laundered through blockchain wallets and foreign accounts before being transferred to Nigeria.
In a dramatic twist, the suspects offered a N66 million bribe to secure their release. Detectives, acting on the AIG’s directive, played along and recovered the bribe as evidence.
The police have contacted the Ghanaian Embassy and involved Interpol to trace the suspects’ international accomplices. Authorities are also working to identify the Ghana-based individual who facilitated the forgery.
During interrogation, the suspects, who only completed secondary school in Benin City, blamed poverty for their actions. They expressed regret, urging Nigerian youths to embrace hard work instead of resorting to fraudulent schemes.
The case underscores the importance of international cooperation and vigilance in combating cybercrime and document forgery. The suspects will face prosecution as investigations continue.
