The suspect who was arrested on Sunday, December 3, 2023, was accused of using the Facebook account name and details of one Emmanuel Okoh, popularly known as Okwuluora, to defraud some members of the public.
The police in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria, have announced the arrest of one Somtochukwu Franklin, 26, for alleged fraud and identity theft.
The suspect who was arrested on Sunday, December 3, 2023, was accused of using the Facebook account name and details of one Emmanuel Okoh, popularly known as Okwuluora, to defraud some members of the public.
A statement on Wednesday signed by the Command's spokesman, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said the arrest was carried out by operatives of the command attached to the New Haven Police Division at about 12:30 pm on Sunday.
Ndukwe explained that a preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect confessed to the crime by stating that he created the fake “Okwuluora” Facebook account in January 2023 and had since been using it to solicit funds from his over 33,000 followers.
"The suspect further stated that he usually waits for the actual “Okwuluora” to make a post, soliciting support for persons in situations requiring financial assistance.
“Upon sighting such posts, he immediately copies and posts them on the fake Facebook account and changes the beneficiary's account details to his, thereby fraudulently obtaining funds from unsuspecting donors.
"He added that he has, by so doing, received funds running into tens of thousands of Naira from donors," the police spokesman said.
Ndukwe, however, noted that the Command's Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, had ordered the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department to conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute the suspect.
"The CP, therefore, encourages victims of the fraudulent act to report to the State CID and volunteer their statements, while also calling on the citizenry to be wary of social media impostors and their fraudulent activities, especially this yuletide,” he added.