In a coordinated operation that highlighted the strength of inter-agency collaboration, security officials at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, have apprehended a 29-year-old suspected international fraudster, Abraham Akpojisheri, over alleged identity theft and large-scale internet fraud.
Akpojisheri, a resident of Akpos Villa, Abraka in Delta State, was intercepted by eagle-eyed Aviation Security (AVSEC) officers on June 24, 2025, at the local wing of MMIA while attempting to board a flight to Asaba. The suspect had just arrived in Nigeria aboard TAG Angola Airlines from South Africa and was found in possession of a staggering 783 MTN SIM cards, reportedly smuggled in from abroad.
Following his arrest, AVSEC officers promptly handed him over to the Airport Police Command.
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Airport Command, CP Olufunke Adeayo Ogunbode, mnips, PhD, ordered a swift investigation by a special cybercrime unit within the command.
The probe revealed damning evidence: Akpojisheri confessed to being part of a sophisticated internet fraud syndicate operating across Nigeria, Ukraine, and South Africa. According to the police, the suspect admitted to using the hundreds of SIM cards to hack Electronic Authorization Systems (EAS) of bank accounts worldwide.
He further confessed to creating multiple fake profiles using stolen identities and photographs on platforms like Facebook to lure victims into fraudulent forex trading schemes. His victims, mostly based in the United States, were deceived into investing in fake forex platforms, losing tens of thousands of dollars in the process.
The suspect also disclosed that he was trained in cyber fraud by a close associate, one “Okiemute,” based in Ukraine, who allegedly remains a key figure in the syndicate’s operations.
Authorities say preliminary investigations point to a well-coordinated criminal network stretching across at least three countries. Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the network.
The Police Commissioner commended her team’s integrity and professionalism, particularly for rejecting a bribe offered by the suspect in a bid to evade justice.
“No crime will be tolerated under my watch. We will not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law down on anyone who attempts to use our airports as safe passage for crime,” CP Ogunbode declared.
She also issued a stern warning to Nigerian youths, urging them to choose honest and dignified livelihoods over fast money and crime. “Stay away from airports if your business there is fraudulent,” she cautioned.
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.