Police detectives from Zone 7 Command Headquarters in Abuja have apprehended a 26-year-old man, Emeka Marcel Nweke, for allegedly creating a fraudulent Facebook account using the name of Architect Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), to scam unsuspecting victims.
The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Benneth Igweh, who revealed that the suspect, a secondary school dropout, is part of a 21-member fraud syndicate. Nweke was tracked and arrested in Awada, Anambra State, by police operatives.
According to AIG Igweh, the suspect operated multiple bank accounts, including Zenith, Access, Opay, GTB, Fairmoney Microfinance, FCMB, and Fidelity Bank. His GTBank account alone recorded transactions exceeding ₦10 million in August 2024.
The arrest followed a petition filed by TETFUND’s Executive Secretary against Nweke and other suspects, including Innocent Eze, Mrs. Nenrot L., Dogara Bulus, Victor Okpanach, and John Kent, among others. The allegations included criminal conspiracy, impersonation, fraud, cyberstalking, obtaining money under false pretenses, and threats to life.
Police investigations revealed that the suspects used the fake Facebook page to pose as TETFUND staff, advertising fraudulent supply contracts to schools and institutions. They duped victims into supplying goods to fake addresses, diverting the items for personal gain. They also solicited donations from companies and organizations, falsely claiming the funds were for government developmental projects in schools, without the knowledge or consent of TETFUND’s Executive Secretary.
The AIG stated that detectives tracked the suspects through their Facebook chats, phone numbers, and bank account details used to solicit money. He assured the public that the suspect would face charges in court following the completion of the investigation, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant and cautious of online fraudsters exploiting social media platforms for criminal activities.
