OBA OF EGBALAND IMPERSONATOR ARRESTED

By Akpabio Aniema

Gani Akinmade (22 years old) who is a college dropout has been arrested by the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly impersonating the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adetdotun Gbadebo on facebook.
Akinmade was attempting to swindle a UK resident, one Olubokola Awofeso, of the sum of N3m whom he met on Facebook using his false identity. He was arrested at a bank where he had gone to withdraw the money he scammed out of another of his victim in the United States through Western Union money transfer.

According to the SFU Police Public Relation Officer, Ngozi Isintume Agu, ‘‘We received information on 22nd july, 2013, that a facebook account with the name HRM Oba Michael Adetotun Gbadebo was opened between May 3rd and 22nd 2013 by a fraudster. Aside from trying to defraud Awofeso, the suspect attempted to lure the victim to partner in a business of supplying 300 transformers valued at over N1 billion. He has confessed to the crime but said he connived with one Ifeanyi and Seyi Lewis to commit the fraud.’’
It was gathered that the Oba has denied ownership of the Facebook account, and neither has he spoken or proposed any partnership business to Awofeso. However, the suspect, Akinmade who claimed to be a self employed chef denied the impersonation allegation. He said, ‘‘I simply went to the bank to withdraw money for my friend Ifeanyi, I didn’t defraud nor impersonate anyone. I had to even seek assistance at the bank to fill the form because I have never used Western Union money transfer before.’’
Ngozi Isintume added that the efforts are being made to arrest the fleeing suspects. She said, The Commissioner of Police SFU, Mr Tunde Ogunsakin, has advised the general public to be careful of the friends they keep on social network. Akinmade would be charged to court on the conclusion of the investigation.