Olusegun Ariyo
The police in Lagos State have arrested two suspected international fraudsters who specialise in forging certificates of different international and African universities.
The suspects, Elvis Osakpolo Edokpain, and Kelly Osas Endgieen, allegedly specialise in defrauding their unsuspecting victims on the internet and have succeeded in acquiring exotic cars and erecting mansions in different parts of the country with the proceeds of their loot.
According to police sources at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, tables turned against the suspects after detectives at the Anti-Corruption Unit of the zone received credible information from outside Nigeria concerning a group of boys that specialises in forging foreign certificates.
On getting the information, it was gathered that the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the zone, Adegoke Fayoude, detailed the anti-corruption unit to investigate it and gave marching orders that they must be rounded up without delay.
Based on his directives, police sources said detectives stormed Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and as soon as the suspects arrived, they trailed them to a five-star hotel at Osapa-London in Lekki and later accosted them at the bus stop while they were about escaping from the hotel.
It was gathered that on searching their luggage, one certificate from Blue Crest College, Ghana, belonging to Elvis Osakpolo Edokpiain, was recovered and a student identity card from Academic City College was also recovered from Kenny Osas.
Further search revealed a transcript of an academic record from Blue Crest University belonging to Elvis Osapolo.
Detectives, while searching further discovered a letter of English proficiency from the said college and a letter of recommendation from the same Blue Crest College.
Upon interrogation, the suspects made useful statements to the police and confessed that they never got any admission into the school but procured the degree certificate through the help of a female Nigerian resident in Ghana.
