The Ogun State Police Command has arrested Adewale Ogoemi Arojah for allegedly posing as a popular cleric on Facebook and defrauding victims of more than ₦18 million by offering fake prophecies, prayers and spiritual services.
The suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Ilaro Divisional Police Headquarters following a complaint by Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun, who discovered that an impostor was using a duplicate Facebook account to deceive members of the public in his name.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, explaining that the cleric reported the matter to the police on October 3, 2026, after receiving complaints about the fraudulent account.
Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer in Ilaro deployed intelligence and detective teams to identify and arrest the suspect.
Babaseyi said, “Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, Ilaro Division, immediately detailed intelligence and detective operatives to track down the perpetrator.
“Through sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis, the suspect was tracked to a nearby village in Ajegunle, via the Ilaro-Ibogun axis, where he was successfully apprehended.
“During a rigorous interrogation, the suspect confessed to impersonating the real Prophet Akogun on Facebook. He admitted to using the cleric’s identity to deliver fake prophecies and offer prayer services to vulnerable individuals, thereby defrauding victims residing both within Nigeria and in the diaspora.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect systematically targeted victims seeking spiritual assistance on the said prophet’s Facebook page, gained their trust and swindled them of funds amounting to over N18m.”
The police spokesperson added that the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The investigation is expected to establish the full extent of the alleged fraud, identify possible accomplices and clarify the circumstances surrounding the transactions.
The command said the arrest reflected its determination to tackle cybercrime, identity theft and online fraud across the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro police operatives for their vigilance and swift response, reiterating the command’s commitment to protecting residents against online and physical threats.
The police also urged members of the public to verify social media accounts claiming to belong to religious leaders and other prominent personalities before sending money or disclosing personal information.
Residents were encouraged to report suspected cybercrime, impersonation and other suspicious activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line, 0800 000 9111, or 09164859299 and 09154293464.