By Ayodele Oni
Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a suspect who fraudulently obtained the sum of ₦10 million under the pretext of supplying a set of laboratory equipment.
The suspect, one Adekugbe Moses, male, aged 29 years, is among the ten suspects paraded by the command for committing various offences.
Moses was alleged for offences bordering on Obtaining Money by False Pretence and Stealing by Conversion.
The State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Laws, who briefed Journalists in Akure, at the weekend, stated that “The case was reported on the 10th of January, 2025, by one Engineer Adekunle Adesina, male, who alleged that the suspect fraudulently obtained the sum of Ten Million Naira from him under the pretext of supplying a set of laboratory equipment.
“However, upon receiving the said amount, the suspect absconded to Lagos State and converted the money to his personal use without delivering any of the promised items.
“Acting swiftly on the report, detectives from the Command commenced a detailed investigation which led to the arrest of the suspect.
“During interrogation, Adekugbe Moses confessed to the crime, admitting that he had no intention of procuring the said equipment. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect would have his days in court to face the full weight of the law.”
Laws revealed that two suspects were equally arrested for cultistism and illegal possession of firearm.
“On the 26th of October, 2025, at about 0530 hours, operatives of the Command arrested two suspected cultists and armed robbery suspects at Ipele, Owo Local Government Area.
“The suspects are Lawason Munini (male) and one other, both of whom were apprehended following credible intelligence.
“A pump action gun was recovered from the suspects. During interrogation, they confessed to being members of a notorious cult group known as the Malians Club, comprising about ten members.
“One of the suspects revealed that he was initiated into the group after paying an initiation fee. The group is said to operate from a structure along Ipele Road, which serves as their meeting point.
“Acting on intelligence, operatives raided the identified hideouts in Ipele and Melege, though some members escaped. The Command is intensifying efforts to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover more arms.”
Another feat by the command was recovery of firearms and rescue of kidnap victims in Akoko area of the state.
“In another major success, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Command recorded a commendable breakthrough along the Oka–Akungba axis, where three kidnapped victims were rescued after a fierce exchange of gunfire with their abductors.
“One of the kidnappers was neutralized in the process, while others fled with gunshot injuries. Recovered from the scene were two locally-made pistols, expended cartridges, mobile phones, and other personal effects belonging to the victims. All rescued victims have since been safely reunited with their families.
The commissioner announced the case of one suspect that allegedly hacked into the WhatsApp page of a retired senior police officer.
“In continuation of the Command’s sustained efforts to track down cybercriminals and fraudsters who exploit technology to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested one Ayodeji Oluwapelumi Samuel, male, for offences bordering on Fraud, Obtaining Money by False Pretence, and Stealing by Conversion.
“The arrest followed a petition received from a very senior retired police officer, who reported that on the 4th of October, 2025, she discovered that her WhatsApp account had been hacked by the suspect and his accomplices.
“Using the compromised account, the culprits deceitfully contacted several of her associates, fraudulently obtaining various sums of money amounting to over One Million Naira.
“Upon receipt of the report, detectives from the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department immediately swung into action.
“The team sought and obtained a Bankers’ Order from the court on the PalmPay account used by the suspect to receive funds from the unsuspecting victims.
“The response from PalmPay’s compliance unit furnished the Command with the full profile details of Ayodeji Oluwapelumi Samuel, which enabled operatives to track his digital trail and telephone number.
“A coordinated intelligence-led operation thereafter led to his arrest in Ibillo/Ososo, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, where he was found in possession of incriminating evidence linking him directly to the crime.”
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