The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested three persons who allegedly belong to a syndicate involved in forgery, extortion, and counterfeiting of the Nigeria Police Character Certificate.
The Public Relations Officer of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon Lagos, ASP Aminat Mayegun, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday while parading the suspects in Ikoyi.
Mayegun said that a special sting operation was launched on November 16, 2023, to burst the criminal network.
She noted that the special operation became expedient following the receipt of a report from an innocent victim who presented such counterfeited documents for the processing of her visa application at the UK Embassy.
According to her, upon being identified as fake, the applicant was refused the visa and banned from entering the country for 10 years.
The image maker said that three suspects were arrested: Chinedu Agbosim, who owned the shop, and the principal suspects, Mariam Dauda and Ebighose Anderson, who were computer operators recruited by Chinedu.
“All the suspects admitted to their individual and common roles in processing the fake police character certificates at a side shop around the Federal Training Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.
“Upon executing a search warrant in the shop, the following items were recovered: Three counterfeit police character certificates and other relevant documents belonging to various Nigerian citizens.
“A computer-generated signature specimen bearing the name of CP CCR, CP Olaolu Adegbite, and dated November 16, 2023. A computer-generated document bearing the superimposed signature of CP Ndu, I.M., the former CCR, CP Ndu, I.M., and desktop computer,” she said.
Mayegun said the suspects would be charged in court soon. (NAN)