Police arrest suspected fraudster for N1.25bn internet scam at airport
Three sentences:
A 20-year-old suspected internet fraudster, Essien Akpama, was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force, Airport Police Command, for allegedly defrauding foreign victims of about N1.25bn and acquiring expensive electronic gadgets. The arrest was confirmed by Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, who said the operation followed months of intelligence-led surveillance. The suspect is accused of using romance and celebrity scams to target victims, including a $1m fraud involving a United States citizen.
TLDR
- Essien Akpama was arrested on 5 January 2026 at Lagos airport while trying to leave the country.
- Police say he relocated to Lagos from Calabar on 23 February 2024 and allegedly coordinated multiple scams targeting foreigners.
- In one incident in 2024, he reportedly deceived a 47-year-old American woman into transferring $1m for a fake property purchase.
- The suspect also allegedly scammed a 70-year-old American woman out of $18,000 through gift cards and electronics.
- Items recovered include high-end phones and laptops, and the case has been transferred to the Special Fraud Unit for further investigation.
