By Adenike Lawal
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested Michael Onyedikachi and Akachukwu Benedict for allegedly defrauding Sandra Austin, a Nigerian based in Canada, of N110 million in an online scam spanning two years.
Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko disclosed that the scam began in February 2022 when Sandra accepted a Facebook request from someone posing as “Engineer Desmond Chibuike Okechukwu.”
Claiming to be a property developer, the scammer convinced Sandra to move their chats to WhatsApp, where he shared images of luxury homes.
Sandra was lured into transferring funds for a property purportedly worth N150 million. After transferring N110 million, she was blocked from all communication channels.
Sandra’s health deteriorated due to the emotional toll of the scam, prompting her family to report the case.
The C4i Intelligence Unit launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of Michael Onyedikachi, 29, in August 2024.
He confessed to creating the fake profile and using fraudulent tactics learned during an eight-month stay in Ghana.
His accomplice, Akachukwu Benedict, also 29, was arrested days later in Enugu and admitted to introducing Michael to online fraud.
Recovered items include a Toyota Corolla, land documents, laptops, and mobile phones.
The police are investigating further to uncover additional accomplices, with the suspects expected to face charges soon.
