Canadian, Nigerian Suspects in Police Net for Multimillion-Dollar Scams
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two suspects linked to separate high-profile financial crimes involving over $210,000 and ₦452 million, the latest in a crackdown on cyber-enabled fraud.
In a statement on Monday, Force spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said INTERPOL operatives arrested Robert Harms, a Canadian, and Okeke Njaka, a Nigerian, in separate sting operations coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja.
Harms was picked up on February 7 at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while allegedly trying to flee to Canada after defrauding Akwa Ibom-based Tepison Enterprises of $210,000 in a bogus green energy deal.
“Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated ‘capital project bond,’” the police said. “Further inquiries confirmed that Harms had no legitimate affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited,” despite claiming ties to the company.
Investigations revealed that Harms funneled the funds through a Bureau de Change in Abuja to a Dubai account. He was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Uyo on May 9 and remains in custody pending the next hearing.
In a separate operation, Njaka—who had been declared wanted in 2021—was re-arrested on May 8 in Abuja for alleged cyberstalking, fraud, and involvement in a fake medical NGO scam worth ₦452,821,982.
“Investigations revealed Njaka’s active involvement in cyberstalking and cyberbullying through multiple social media platforms, where she maliciously distributed nude photos and videos of her victims,” the police said.
Her NGO, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, and its associates are facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Reaffirming the force’s stance, the statement noted:
“The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP kayode Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM once again emphasises its unyielding resolve to combatting all forms of transnational financial crimes and urges members of the public to exercise utmost caution and due diligence before entering into high-value international agreements and to promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies”.
