The Ogun State Police Command have arrested a conman who opened fake social media acounts in the name of the Ooni of Ife.

Abiodun Joseph, 26, opened WhatsApp and Facebook accounts using the picture of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye, to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.

Parading the suspect alongside other suspects, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, said the suspect who had on previous occassions, successfully defrauded two persons of a total sum of N600,000,  was apprehended while perfecting a third plan.

“On Wednesday, an information was received about a man impersonating the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi Adeyeye, on Facebook and WhatsApp platforms to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

“Upon information, Policemen attached to Ijebu Ode Area Command swung into action and subsequently arrested one Abiodun Joseph, 26,” the commissioner said.

The suspect confessed to the crime.

“I opened a WhatsApp and Facebook accounts using the Ooni’s picture and I have duped two people to the tune of N600,000, though I am regretting my action.

“When I left secondary school, I had no sponsor to allow me further my education, so I learned how to repair phones and computers. That is what I have been doing before I was arrested by the Police for impersonation,” he said.

While assuring members of the general public of their safety, the Commissioner of Police, however, sought the cooperation and understanding of residents on intelligence sharing and information that could lead to the arrest of criminals in the state.