Police arrest 4 for forging govt documents, recover N1.7m

The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested four suspects for alleged criminal conspiracy, forgery of government documents, job racketeering, impersonation, and obtaining money under false pretence.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

Adejobi said the suspects were apprehended by the operatives of the IGP-Special Investigation Unit following a report received from the office of the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu and subsequent intelligence gathering.

Adejobi identified the suspects as Khuzaifa Tafida, Zakari Abdullahi, Abdullahi Baba, and Adeyemo Morufu.

He stated that the suspects belong to a syndicate involved in forging classified documents emanating from government agencies in the bid to deceive unsuspecting victims and extort money from them under the guise of securing a job for them at the Nigeria Police Academy in the Wudil area of Kano State and other agencies of the federal government.

Adejobi disclosed that Tafida and Abdullahi allegedly forged a document resembling one emanating from the office of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and another document with a semblance to one from the State House in Abuja.

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The police spokesman said: “The duo then proceeded to present the documents to the office of the Inspector-General of Police as recommendations in favour of 13 persons for the Nigeria Police 2022 Special Recruitment.

“Upon receipt of these documents with suspicion, followed by a petition from the office of the Special Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a discreet investigation was conducted, which led to the apprehension of Khuzaifa Tafida and Zakari Abdullahi. Further investigation would then result in the arrest of the other suspects involved.

“Upon interrogation, the suspects confessed to their roles in the crime. They admitted to forging documents from several government offices to defraud unsuspecting victims, promising them enlistment and jobs at various government agencies.”

Adejobi added that some forged classified documents, stamps, the sum of N1,700,000, and other incriminating items were recovered from the suspects.

“With this new trend, members of the public are advised to be wary of such fraudulent elements and avoid dealing with persons and individuals offering assistance outside of due process,” he noted.

The Star