The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has apprehended 40-year-old Sunday Otu, a Cross River State native living in Ketu, for allegedly defrauding people with forged release orders. Otu, who resides at No. 51 Agboyi Road, Ketu, posed as a Taskforce agent and swindled a victim of ₦60,000, promising to secure the release of their vehicle.

According to Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem
Director, Public Affairs Lagos State, Otu was apprehended after he fraudulently obtained the sum of ₦60,000 from one Mr. Sunday Daniel (also known as Daniel Jackson), 35 years old, of No. 1 Tollgate Estate, Ogun State.

The impostor promised the victim he could secure the vehicle’s release for ₦90,000, leveraging his “connections”. The victim transferred ₦60,000 upfront, agreeing to pay the balance after receiving the release order.

Investigations revealed Otu forged the Taskforce release order and lured the victim to the Agency’s car park in Alausa, where he was arrested. He was also linked to a similar fraudulent case weeks earlier, and the Agency had been tracking him.

Upon arrest, Otu was found with forged release order booklets, a green biro, staples, staplers, and vehicle registration numbers. He confessed to having an accomplice named Afix, who is currently at large.

The impostor pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to four years and five months imprisonment at the Badagry Correctional Centre.

  Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele,

Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, warned members of the public against dealing with touts or middlemen who parade themselves as agents of the Taskforce.

“Our enforcement terminates in the court, which is the only civilized way of settling disputes. Anyone who deals with impostors or touts does so at his own peril. We urge Lagosians to remain vigilant and always approach the Agency directly to avoid being defrauded by criminal elements who are wolves in the midst of innocent sheep,” he stated.

CSP Akerele urged officers to stay alert and vigilant, warning that the Agency would crack down on individuals impersonating government officials to extort citizens.

He emphasized the importance of diligence in their duties to prevent such fraudulent activities. This call to action comes amid efforts to maintain transparency and accountability within government agencies.