The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two suspects for separate fraud cases totaling over ₦500 million. One suspect is Canadian national Robert Harms; the other is Nigerian citizen Okeke Ogechi Njaka.
Police apprehended Harms on February 7, 2025, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He was trying to flee to Canada when INTERPOL officers arrested him. Harms allegedly scammed Tepison Enterprises in Akwa Ibom out of $210,000. He introduced a fake Waste-to-Energy investment through a staff member at Polaris Bank.
Police say Harms used forged documents and rerouted the money through a Bureau de Change in Abuja. Funds eventually went to Dubai, bypassing standard banking systems. Harms was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Uyo on May 9, 2025. He remains in custody at Uyo Custodial Centre. His trial resumes on May 20.
Police also re-arrested Okeke Ogechi Njaka on May 8, 2025, in Abuja. She had escaped custody after a 2021 fraud case and was previously granted bail. She was first arrested in Anambra State in January 2021 for cybercrime and breach of trust. Her NGO, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, ran a fake medical aid initiative. The scam reportedly defrauded victims of ₦452,821,982.
Two others, Emeka Ezeogbo and Tolotolo Family Foundation, also face prosecution in the same case. Police tracked Njaka down using intelligence-led operations and found her in hiding in Abuja.
Force spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi confirmed the arrests in a public statement. He praised INTERPOL’s efforts to combat cybercrime and international fraud. Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun urged Nigerians to be cautious in international business dealings. He assured the public that the Force remains committed to fighting financial and cybercrime.