•IGP Kayode Egbetokun
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two high-profile suspects for their alleged roles in a series of cyber and financial crimes, including a $210,000 investment scam and a ₦452 million charity fraud scheme.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement today.
He said the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja confirmed the arrests of Robert Harms, a Canadian national, and Ms. Okeke Njaka, a Nigerian, in separate operations coordinated by INTERPOL operatives.
Harms was arrested over a fraudulent investment scheme targeting Tepison Enterprises, a company based in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
According to the statement, acting on a petition filed by the firm, police investigations revealed that the Canadian was introduced to the company through a Polaris Bank account officer in June 2023.
He was said to have convinced Tepison Enterprises to invest $210,000 in a fake Waste-to-Energy Project in Canada by promising a $30,000 return within four weeks.
“Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated ‘capital project bond,’” the police said.
Further investigation showed that Harms had forged a “Project Bridge Loan Agreement” and transferred the funds through a Bureau de Change in Abuja to an account in Dubai.
He also falsely claimed affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, a claim denied by the company’s chief executive officer.
See the full statement below:
FINANCIAL CRIMES: POLICE NET TWO HIGH-PROFILE CYBER CRIMINALS, ARRAIGN SUSPECTS IN COURT.
In the ongoing fight against transnational financial crimes, the Nigeria Police Force INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja has once again achieved significant breakthroughs, apprehending two high-profile suspects wanted for investment fraud and cybercrime. These arrests underscore the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling both financial and cyber related threats.
Following a meticulous investigation, INTERPOL NCB Abuja successfully apprehended Robert Harms, a Canadian national, in connection with a fraudulent investment scheme targeting Tepison Enterprises, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The investigation was initiated following a formal petition by the company. The complainant alleged that Harms, introduced through a Polaris Bank account officer in June 2023, fraudulently induced them to invest in a fictitious Waste-to-Energy Project in Canada. Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated “capital project bond,” with promises of a $30,000 return within four weeks, returns which never materialised.
Investigations revealed that Harms fabricated a fraudulent Project Bridge Loan Agreement and orchestrated the transfer of funds to an account in Dubai through Allah Mai Girma Bureau de Change in Abuja. Further inquiries confirmed that Harms had no legitimate affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, the Canadian company he falsely claimed to represent, the CEO of VDQ-NRG Systems Limited when contacted denied any knowledge of or association with Harms. Harms was apprehended by INTERPOL operatives on February 7, 2025, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, while attempting to flee to Canada. Harms admitted to receiving the funds and violating the investment agreement. Formal criminal charges were filed at the Federal High Court, Uyo, on April 22, 2025. Harms was arraigned on May 9, 2025, and remanded at the Uyo Custodial Centre. The case has been adjourned to May 20, 2025.
In a separate operation, INTERPOL NCB Abuja also successfully re-apprehended Ms. Okeke Ogechi Njaka, who is wanted for series of cybercrimes and fraud-related offences, including cyberbullying, cyberstalking, obtaining money under false pretences, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. The case against Njaka was initiated in September 2020, following a report filed by Hajia Maryam Shehu, represented by M.I. Tsav & Co. Legal Practitioners & Notaries Public, Abuja. Investigations revealed Njaka’s active involvement in cyberstalking and cyberbullying through multiple social media platforms, where she maliciously distributed nude photos and videos of her victims.
Njaka was declared wanted via a Special Police Gazette Bulletin issued in 2021. She was initially arrested in Anambra State on January 4, 2025, but subsequently absconded after jumping administrative bail. Persistent intelligence-led efforts led to her re-arrest on May 8, 2025, in her hideout in Abuja. Njaka will be arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Furthermore, Njaka’s non-governmental organisation, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, is also facing prosecution for allegedly obtaining N452,821,982 in a medical assistance scam before the Federal High Court Abuja, along with Emeka Ezeogbo and Tolotolo Family Foundation.
The Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP kayode Egbetokun Ph.D, NPM once again emphasises its unyielding resolve to combatting all forms of transnational financial crimes and urges members of the public to exercise utmost caution and due diligence before entering into high-value international agreements and to promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies.
ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.
13th May 2025.
