The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has arrested and secured the conviction of a 40-year-old impostor, Mr. Sunday Otu, for defrauding unsuspecting members of the public with forged Taskforce release orders.
Otu, who resides at No. 51 Agboyi Road, Ketu, and hails from Cross River State, was caught after fraudulently obtaining ₦60,000 from one Mr. Sunday Daniel, also known as Daniel Jackson, a 35-year-old resident of Ogun State. Daniel, who had earlier been accosted for driving against traffic, was promised by Otu that his vehicle could be released through “connections” at the Agency for ₦90,000. He transferred an initial sum of ₦60,000, with an agreement to pay the balance after receiving the release order.
Investigations revealed that Otu personally forged the Taskforce release order and lured the victim to the Agency’s car park in Alausa, where he was arrested. Further inquiries uncovered his involvement in a similar fraud weeks earlier, prompting the Taskforce to place him under surveillance.
Upon his arrest, officials recovered multiple forged release order booklets, a green biro, staplers, staples, and several vehicle registration numbers. Otu also confessed that an accomplice, identified as Afix, who is currently at large, was part of the fraudulent scheme.
He was charged to court, where he pleaded guilty, and has since been sentenced to four years and five months imprisonment at the Badagry Correctional Centre.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, warned Lagosians against dealing with touts or impostors who parade themselves as Taskforce agents.
“Our enforcement terminates in the court, which is the only civilized way of settling disputes. Anyone who deals with impostors or touts does so at his own peril. We urge residents to remain vigilant and always approach the Agency directly to avoid being defrauded by wolves in sheep’s clothing,” Akerele stated.
He also charged officers and men of the Agency to remain alert in the discharge of their duties, assuring that the Taskforce will continue to clamp down on fraudulent elements impersonating government officials.
