NSCDC arrests two internet scammers in Ondo

Maxwell Lakoju and Adejumo David have been detained by the Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for allegedly participating in online fraud.

The individuals allegedly belonged to a ring that traded in bank accounts and defrauded the state's citizens.

The suspects were apprehended by the command's Counter Terrorism Unit, according to a statement released on Tuesday by the state NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Daniel Aidamenbor.

The statement claims that the suspect obtained the victims' account information fraudulently so it could be used against them.

The statement read, “Maxwell Lakoju and Adejumo David have been arrested by the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Command for fraudulently obtaining account details for criminal use. Both suspects have confessed to being involved in buying and selling bank accounts from unwary members of the public under various guises.

“Investigation activities began when one Mr Oluwole, a car dealer alleged that the sum of N1,500,000 paid into his United Bank of Africa (UBA) account was stolen by cyber criminals overnight.

“A forensic analysis of the UBA statement of account of Mr Oluwole revealed a certain Palmpay account El-Saeed Yusuf 9133771898 received a sum of N200,000 from the N1,500,000 stolen from the account of Mr Oluwole and the balance sum used for online purchases.

“The Zenith Bank account, Sampson Onyenebe received the entire N200,000 from the Palmpay Account of El-Saeed Yusuf while another account, John Yobg Dadd 7025128574 at Firstmonie equally received other sums from El-Saeed Yusuf Palmpay account.

“Sampson Onyenebe who was arrested in Owerri, Imo state claimed that he met Maxwell Lakoju a.k.a Ifa Dollar on Facebook in 2022 and they discussed and agreed on how Maxwell would assist him with metaphysical power for wealth.”

The PRO went on to say that Onyenebe gave Lokuju access to eight bank accounts that belonged to him and his wife, as well as automated teller machine cards and personal identity numbers for those accounts. Onyenebe subsequently transferred several thousand naira through a David account.

“The arrest of David Adejumo led to the arrest of Maxwell Lakoju in Auchi, Edo State. Both suspects confessed to obtaining the bank accounts and their details including the ATM cards by courier from Sampson and his wife.

“Both suspects also confessed to have equally obtained and procured details of other bank accounts from other individuals and sold same to persons whom they claimed usually place regular demands for such.”

He said that the investigation to ascertain whether bank employees and IT specialists were involved in the cybercrime activities was still ongoing.

Source