Ogun Police arrest suspected ₦2.5m fraudster, recover 25 ATM Cards, 25 phones, 16 SIMs

By Adebola Muili

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a 45-year-old man, Tony Ameachi, over an alleged ₦2.5 million fraud involving the purchase of deep freezers, recovering 25 ATM cards, 25 mobile phones and 16 SIM cards from him.

The Command disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, who said the arrest followed an investigation into a case of obtaining money under false pretence reported at the Igbesa Police Division.

According to Babaseyi, the incident occurred on April 1, 2026, when the complainant, who deals in the purchase and resale of deep freezers, responded to an online advertisement for the goods and contacted the person behind the offer.

He said following discussions, the woman transferred ₦2.5 million into a bank account bearing the name Abdulmoruf Abdulahi for the purchase of the deep freezers.

However, the goods were not delivered, while the person she had been communicating with allegedly stopped responding to her messages.

Babaseyi said the matter was reported at the Igbesa Police Division on April 4, 2026, following which detectives commenced investigation.

He said the investigation yielded a breakthrough in September when detectives traced Ameachi to the Ojo area of Lagos State, where he was arrested on September 22.

A search conducted during the arrest led to the recovery of 25 ATM cards, 25 mobile phones and 16 SIM cards, according to the police spokesperson.

Further investigation, Babaseyi said, established that the suspect allegedly obtained utility bills and newly registered SIM cards from associates, who were directed to use them to open various bank accounts.

The ATM cards were thereafter allegedly collected by the suspect and used in transactions connected with fraudulent activities, he said.

The police spokesperson said the recovered devices, ATM cards and SIM cards were being examined to establish their relevance to the present case, determine whether they were connected to other similar transactions and identify other persons or possible victims linked to the investigation.

He added that the suspect, case file and recovered exhibits had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further discreet investigation.

Babaseyi said the suspect would be charged to court in accordance with the law upon the conclusion of the investigation.

The Command also advised members of the public to exercise due diligence when conducting online transactions, urging them to verify the identity and credibility of sellers before making substantial payments.

It further advised the public to preserve transaction receipts, account details, telephone numbers, messages and other relevant records, while promptly reporting suspected fraudulent activities to the police.