Lagos State Police Command have arrested painter, Moses Olaitan, and his accomplice, Segun Omoshola, for allegedly impersonating Elegushi of Ikate land, Oba Saheed Elegushi, and using his image to defraud a woman on Facebook of N51m.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Ikeja on Thursday, said the suspects were arrested following a complaint lodged at the station.
He revealed that after a detailed investigation, detectives tracked down and arrested Olaitan and Segun three months after perpetrating the crime.
Speaking to newsmen, Olaitan said after he opened a Facebook account in the name of the monarch and started posting different pictures of the traditional ruler to attract potential suitors.
He stated;
Everything happened on Facebook. I impersonated Oba Saheed Elegushi on Facebook and used his pictures. She (the victim) connected with me online and said she wanted to marry a king and we started from there. I told her that if she wanted to marry a king, she needs to do some cultural activities and she agreed.
She told me to send my account number, but because I didn’t have an account number, I contacted Segun, who provided the account used for collecting the money.
Olaitan narrated;
I was paid N2.5m and it was when I was brought to the command that I got to know that what she paid was N51m. How I was arrested was that the police tracked my cousin’s number. I was making arrangements for my birthday when the police arrested me.
His accomplice, 48-year-old Segun, on his part said he got only N3.5 million from the crime and is shocked that N51 million was actually paid by the victim.
He noted;
I took him to those who provided the account used in collecting the money from the woman. I collected N3.5m. I was shocked when I heard that the money was N51m.
