Suspected International Fraudster Arrested With 783 MTN Sim Cards

The Airport Police Command, working alongside other security agencies, has apprehended a suspected international fraudster, Abraham Akpojisheri, for possessing 783 MTN SIM cards.

The suspect was caught by vigilant Aviation Security personnel at the domestic wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, 2 Ikeja, Lagos State on June 24, 2025.

Akpojisheri, a native of Delta State, was scheduled to board a domestic flight to Asaba on the same day from MM2 before his arrest.

Police Public Relations Officer of the command, CSP Daramola Kazeem, who revealed this in a statement on Thursday, June 26, said the suspect admitted to being part of an international syndicate engaged in identity theft and large-scale internet fraud.

The syndicate specializes in stealing individuals’ identities and photos to create online profiles with the intent to defraud victims through impersonation.

The suspect allegedly used Facebook to reach out to his victims and had created multiple email accounts with various foreign names and numbers, persuading victims to invest in forex trading.

According to Kazeem, investigations showed that the suspect purchased the SIM cards in South Africa to hack CARD EAS of people’s accounts worldwide.

Further probes revealed that he has defrauded ten (10) victims from America alone, amassing tens of thousands of dollars.

“It was a synergy among inter agencies at work in the Airport when one Abraham Akpojisheri ‘m’ aged 29 of Villa, Abraka Delta state was arrested by eagle eye Aviation Security at the local wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, 2 Ikeja Lagos on June 24, 2025 and was promptly handed over to the airport police,” the statement read.

“The suspect who came into Nigeria through MMIA with TAG Angola airline on 24/06/25 with Seven Hundred and Eighty Three (783) MTN SIM cards allegedly brought in from South Africa where he travelled to sometimes in February, 2025, was billed to board local flight to Asaba same day from MM2.

“The Airport Commissioner of Police, CP Olufunke Adeayo Ogunbode mnips, PhD upon taking over the case directed a special unit savvy with technology wherewithal to unravel the motive behind the suspect action for having such number of SIM cards with him coming from abroad after the botched boarding of flight to Asaba by Aviation Security (AVSEC).

“During investigation and upon presentation of unassailable facts as unearthed with technology by the assemblage of the newly invigorated team, the suspect confessed to belong to a syndicate of Internet and identity theft fraudster who specializes in stealing people’s identities and pictures to create profiles online with intent to defraud their victims by impersonation.

“In his confessional statement, he stated that the 783 MTN SIM cards were bought in South Africa for the purpose of hacking CARD EAS of people’s account across the globe.

“It was discovered that he uses Facebook as his means of contact with his victims and has created about 7-8 different emails with different foreign names and numbers telling his victims to invest on forex trade and that he is a Forex trader.

“Findings revealed that he has scammed ten (10) victims from America alone raking in tens of thousands of dollars.

“He said he did all these with collaboration of one of his friends called Okiemute who is based in Ukraine and who also trained him how to scam and hack people’s accounts.

“Preliminary investigation has shown that he has criminal conspiracy cells in Ukraine, South Africa and Nigeria.

“The suspect is billed to be arraigned in court upon completion of investigation while effort is being intensified to arrest his accomplices.”

CP Ogunbode praised the team for rejecting a bribe offered by the suspect to avoid justice.

She affirmed that she will leave no stone unturned to ensure that no crime goes unpunished and urged youths to refrain from criminal activities or avoid airports nationwide to escape facing the full weight of the law when caught.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli