In a significant move against transnational financial crime, the Nigeria Police Force INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja has arrested two high-profile suspects linked to cyber and investment fraud. The operations reinforce the Police Force’s ongoing commitment to curbing financial and cyber-related offences.
In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer Force Headquarters, Abuja ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the first suspect, Robert Harms, a Canadian national, was apprehended following a detailed investigation into a fraudulent investment scheme targeting Tepison Enterprises, based in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The firm alleged that Harms, introduced through a Polaris Bank account officer in June 2023, duped them into investing $210,000 in a fictitious Waste-to-Energy project in Canada. The deal promised a $30,000 return in four weeks, which never materialised.
Investigations revealed that Harms falsified a Project Bridge Loan Agreement and facilitated the transfer of funds to an account in Dubai through a Bureau de Change in Abuja. He was found to have no legitimate ties to the Canadian firm VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, which he falsely claimed to represent. The company’s CEO denied any affiliation with Harms.
Harms was arrested on February 7, 2025, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to flee to Canada. He later admitted to receiving the funds and breaching the investment agreement. He was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Uyo, on May 9, 2025, and remanded in custody. The case resumes on May 20, 2025.
In a separate case, INTERPOL operatives also re-arrested Ms. Okeke Ogechi Njaka, who is wanted for multiple cybercrime offences, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, obtaining money under false pretences, and criminal breach of trust. The case was initiated in 2020 following a complaint from Hajia Maryam Shehu, filed through legal representatives in Abuja.
Njaka was earlier arrested in Anambra State in January 2025 but absconded after being granted administrative bail. She was re-arrested on May 8, 2025, at a hideout in Abuja. She is scheduled for arraignment at the Federal High Court on May 13, 2025.
Her NGO, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, is also under investigation for allegedly defrauding individuals of N452.8 million through a fraudulent medical assistance scheme. The foundation, alongside Emeka Ezeogbo and Tolotolo Family Foundation, is being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to tackling all forms of transnational financial crime. He urged the public to conduct due diligence in financial dealings and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
