The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended two prominent suspects linked to multiple cyber and financial crimes, including a $210,000 investment fraud and a ₦452 million charity scam.

According to a statement issued on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests were carried out in separate operations led by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja. The suspects—Canadian national Robert Harms and Nigerian citizen Ms. Okeke Njaka—were captured following coordinated efforts by INTERPOL operatives.

Robert Harms was taken into custody for orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme against Tepison Enterprises, a company based in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. Following a petition from the company, investigations revealed that Harms was introduced to them in June 2023 through a Polaris Bank account officer.

He allegedly persuaded Tepison Enterprises to invest $210,000 in a fictitious Waste-to-Energy Project in Canada, promising a $30,000 profit within a four-week period.

“Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated ‘capital project bond,’” the Nigerian police said.

Additional investigations revealed that Harms had fabricated a “Project Bridge Loan Agreement” and funneled the money through a Bureau de Change in Abuja to a bank account in Dubai. He also fraudulently claimed to be associated with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, a connection the company's CEO has publicly refuted.

“Further inquiries confirmed that Harms had no legitimate affiliation with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited,” the statement said.

Robert Harms was apprehended on February 7, 2025, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while trying to escape to Canada.

He allegedly confessed to receiving the funds and breaching the terms of the investment agreement.

Following the filing of criminal charges on April 22, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Uyo on May 9, 2025. The court ordered his remand at the Uyo Custodial Centre, with the case adjourned until May 20, 2025.

In a separate operation, INTERPOL operatives re-arrested Ms. Okeke Njaka, who is wanted in connection with cybercrimes and large-scale financial fraud.

Njaka was initially apprehended in Anambra State on January 4, 2025, over allegations such as cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and fraudulently obtaining money. However, she later jumped bail and went into hiding.

“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,” the police stated.

Njaka was officially declared wanted in 2021 through a Special Police Gazette Bulletin and was re-arrested on May 8, 2025, in Abuja.

She is set to be arraigned before the Federal High Court on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Her non-governmental organization, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, is also facing legal action for allegedly defrauding the public of ₦452,821,982 through a fraudulent medical aid scheme. The foundation, along with its associates—Emeka Ezeogbo and the Tolotolo Family Foundation—is currently being prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Reaffirming the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to tackling cyber and financial crimes, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, advised Nigerians to exercise caution when engaging in international business transactions.

“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,” the statement read.

The police advised members of the public to thoroughly verify all dealings before committing to major transactions and to immediately report any suspicious behavior or activities.