Man arrested for N18m Facebook scam posing as cleric

The Ogun State Police have arrested a man named Adewale Ogoemi Arojah. He is accused of pretending to be a cleric on Facebook. He allegedly tricked people into giving him over N18 million by claiming to offer prayers and spiritual help.

Adewale was caught by officers from the Ilaro Divisional Police Headquarters. This happened after a complaint from a real cleric, Muyiwa Akogun. He is known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun.”

On October 3, 2026, Akogun told the police about the situation. He said people were reporting that someone was using a fake Facebook account in his name to scam them.

After getting the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer in Ilaro sent officers to find and arrest the suspect. They used technology and intelligence to track him down.

According to police spokesperson DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the suspect was found in a nearby village in Ajegunle. He was arrested on the Ilaro-Ibogun road. During questioning, Adewale admitted he was impersonating Prophet Akogun on Facebook. He confessed to using the cleric's identity to create false prophecies and offer prayer services.

This scam affected people both in Nigeria and abroad. Preliminary investigations showed that he targeted those looking for spiritual help on the prophet’s Facebook page. He gained their trust and took over N18 million from them.

The police spokesperson said that Adewale has been moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta. They will investigate further to find out how big this scam is and if he has any partners in crime.

Babaseyi added that this arrest shows the police's dedication to fighting online fraud and identity theft. They want to stop cybercriminals from operating in Ogun State.

The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, praised the Ilaro officers for their quick action and focus. He said that the police are committed to keeping people safe from online and offline threats.

The police also advised the public to be careful when dealing with religious leaders and public figures on social media. They urged everyone to check if accounts are real before sending money or personal details.

Residents are encouraged to report any signs of cybercrime or impersonation. They can call the Gateway Shield toll-free line at 0800 000 9111, or the numbers 09164859299 and 09154293464.