By Agnes Afolabi
The Police Command in Lagos has arrested an impersonator who has been parading himself before the public as Police officer of “Commissioner’ status
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the arrest on Monday, while briefing newsmen on the recent achievements recorded by the command.
According to him,the feat included the arrest of 12 others for various offences committed in the last two weeks.
He said that within the period, the command has recovered four firearms, two live cartridges, one expended cartridge, 11 live ammunition and one vehicle from the culprits.
He added that other items recovered were two wrist-watches, six phones, some quantity of weed suspected to be variant of drugs, walkie-talkie, Police warrant card and police camouflage cap a with singlet.
The PPRO said the suspected “fake CP”, simply identified as Emmanuel, was arrested on Sept. 2, at about 4.40 p.m. when he visited a police formation in Ikorodu area and introduced himself as Commissioner of Police.
“He was fully regarded as such but upon questioning, he was discovered to be an impersonator.
During a search in his residence we have recovered a Deputy Commissioner of Police warrant card, an Assistant Commissioner of Police warrant card, Kenwood walkie-talkie, police camouflage singlet and face cap were recovered,”.
Similarly, the spokesperson said that another impersonator, was arrested on Sept. 4, after receipt of a complaint from the Nigeria Bar Association, Epe Area of Lagos.
Hundeyin said that the suspect, one Ibrahim Bello, has allegedly been conducting and presenting himself as a Lawyer at the Epe Magistrate Courts for several years.
According to him, operatives of the Command arrested the suspect fully dressed in a lawyers regalia in the court where he went to defend a client .
“He was brought in for questioning, where he was discovered to be an impersonator,” he said.
Items paraded with him include his portrait with inscription: Bello Law Firm Office, Obas & Chiefs of Lagos State Law, Tenancy Law 2015, Due Process of Law and Law of Trespass of Land and Nuisance.
When the suspect was interviewed, he claimed to be an estate agent and not a lawyer.
Hundeyin said other suspects arrested included a woman arrested on Sunday at about 1.00 p.m., in the Igbogbo area of Ikorodu for allegedly being in possession of large quantities of weed suspected to be hard drugs.
He said the woman was found with 97 wraps of colos, 22 wraps of loud, some mixture of loud and Arizona and a sum of N271,600, her proceeds as at the time of arrest.
He added that other suspects were arrested alleged rape, Armed robbery, cultism and defilement.
He said after discreet investigation the suspects would be prosecuted before a competent court of law.