The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 23 foreign nationals over alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences in the Onipanu-Ota area of the state.
The suspects were arrested last Tuesday at about 11am when officers from the Atan-Ota Division raided a gated residential building inside an estate off Iyana Iyesi, Onipanu-Ota, the police said.
The operation followed intelligence received by the command over suspected fraudulent activities at the location. Police officers were deployed to the area, secured the premises and arrested the suspects for questioning and further investigation.
The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said one Malian international passport bearing the name Diakite Alfousseini was also recovered during the operation.
Police said preliminary investigations linked the suspects to an alleged Ponzi scheme, visa scam and other immigration-related offences. The command said the arrests were part of efforts to investigate the activities and determine those involved.
Following the initial investigation, 21 of the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service on August 5 for further investigation and appropriate action.
The police retained the remaining two suspects for possible prosecution over alleged obtaining by false pretence and other related offences. Their prosecution will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
The command said its investigation is continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent activities and identify any other individuals connected to the scheme.
