Fake cop arrested at Police College for fraud

Fake Cop, Friday Michael

Cyriacus Izuekwe

Fake Cop, Friday Michael

A 35-year old man, Friday Michael who has allegedly been parading himself as a policeman to defraud innocent people has been arrested in Lagos State, western Nigeria.

At the Ejigbo Magistrates’ court where he was arraigned, the court denied him bail and remanded him in prison custody.

Michael was arrested at the Police College in Ikeja wearing police uniform. He had allegedly gone there to collect money from his victim, Comfort Anthony.

Akwa Ibom State-born Michael had earlier allegedly defrauded Comfort of N350,000 under the false pretence of tracking and arresting a wanted house maid identified as Victoria who attempted to kidnap her boss’ child for ransom.

After collecting the initial money, he did not arrest Victoria as he promised, rather, he requested for another N500,000 to do so.

The fraud was reported to the police at Shasha Division and with arrangement with the police, Comfort asked Michael to arrange where he would collect the additional money he requested.

Michael asked her to come to the Police College where he was currently posted.

On the day they agreed, Michael wore police uniform and waited for Comfort inside the college to collect the money.

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Unknown to him, Comfort had arranged with the police who laid ambush for him. And she handed him the envelope containing the money, he was immediately arrested and taken to the station.

At the station, Michael confessed that he was not a policeman, saying he used the uniform to extort money from people.

The police charged him to Magistrates’ court sitting in ejigbo with stealing and impersonation under the Criminal Code.

When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Babaji Ishaku objected to his bail and informed the court that Michael had been habitually posing as police officer by wearing the uniform to defraud people in Lagos.

He said, Michael had been unrepentant and if he was released on bail, he would go back to commit the same crime.

Michael’s counsel, Barrister Awah Ikere, informed the court that the alleged offence Michael committed was a bailable offence as such, the court should use its discretion to grant him bail.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs J.O.E. Adeyemi denied Michael bail and asked his counsel, Ikere to write a write a statement explaining why Michael should be granted bail.

She adjourned the matter till 9 September, 2015 when Ikere is expected to present a written address for consideration of granting him bail.

Michael was remanded in prison custody at Kirikiri, Lagos till the next adjourned date.

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