Police Arrest Man for Allegedly Impersonating Cleric, Defrauding Victims of Over ₦18m

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man, Adewale Ogoemi Arojah, for allegedly impersonating a cleric on Facebook and defrauding victims of more than ₦18 million under the guise of providing prayers and spiritual assistance.

The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Ilaro Divisional Police Headquarters following a complaint by Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun, a cleric known on Facebook by that name.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying Akogun alerted the police on October 3, 2026, after members of the public reported fraudulent activities allegedly being carried out in his name through a duplicate Facebook account.

According to the police, the Divisional Police Officer in Ilaro subsequently deployed intelligence and detective operatives to identify and apprehend the suspect.

Babaseyi said technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis helped investigators trace the suspect to a village in Ajegunle, along the Ilaro-Ibogun axis, where he was arrested.

Suspect Allegedly Used Cleric’s Identity to Defraud Victims

The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect had allegedly impersonated Akogun on Facebook, using the cleric’s identity to issue fake prophecies and offer prayer services.

According to the statement, the suspect allegedly targeted people seeking spiritual assistance through the cleric’s social media page, gained their confidence and persuaded them to send money.

Police said the alleged victims included Nigerians living both within the country and abroad, with preliminary investigations putting the reported financial loss at more than ₦18 million.

Babaseyi said the suspect confessed during interrogation to impersonating the cleric and using the Facebook account to solicit money. The alleged confession has not been tested in court.

Investigation Continues

The police said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

Investigators are expected to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud, identify possible accomplices and examine the transactions linked to the case.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro operatives for their response and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling cybercrime, identity theft and other offences.

The command also urged members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with religious leaders and other public figures on social media.

Residents were advised to verify the authenticity of social media accounts before making payments or sharing personal information.

The police encouraged anyone with information about suspected cybercrime or impersonation to contact the command through its Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or the numbers 09164859299 and 09154293464.