The Lagos State Police Command has arrested an engineering graduate involved in a romance scam. The suspect allegedly defrauded multiple victims using fake online personas. Investigations are ongoing to uncover more details about the fraudulent activities.
Patrick Akuma, who has been arrested on suspicion of internet crimes and identity theft, is connected to numerous scams including romance fraud and schemes involving cryptocurrency. Allegedly, he posed as high-profile figures like a U.S. Army officer and a cryptocurrency expert to convince victims they were interacting with credible professionals. Police claim that Akuma tried bribing officers during the investigation; however, these attempts were meticulously recorded which now leads him to face an imminent court appearance. A significant piece of evidence in the case involves a $100,000 financial transaction.
The Zone 2 Command Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos has been a hive of activity following Akuma’s arrest. Infamous for his use of disguises to execute his plans, Akuma purportedly dressed up to look like Adam Tagger, the Assistant Inspector General of Police responsible for Lagos and Ogun States. In a press briefing, he confessed to orchestrating romance scams and cryptocurrency frauds by using fake identities to deceive victims online.
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One of his impersonations featured Con Mat Habat, an American citizen and U.S. Army officer involved in a peacekeeping mission in Iran. Akuma also pretended to be Adam’s Target, a well-known cryptocurrency stockbroker from the United States. This deception convinced several victims they were interacting with a trustworthy executive, leading to substantial financial losses; one victim was defrauded out of $10,000 as part of this scheme.
The zone’s police chief disclosed that Akuma attempted to bribe officers in hopes of securing his release during the investigation. “When the suspect started pleading and offering money for a quick release, I was notified while on duty,” stated the officer. He further instructed his team to go along with it as part of their strategy. On November 12, 2024, Akuma gave $100,000 (about 174 million naira) as a bribe. The entire exchange was recorded as evidence, which significantly bolstered the case against him.
The investigation has concluded, and substantial evidence has been gathered. Despite any embarrassment the case might have caused, the police stressed their dedication to upholding justice. They confirmed that Patrick Akuma will soon face legal proceedings in court.
