The Nigeria Police Force has taken into custody two suspects—one Canadian and one Nigerian—linked to two major financial fraud cases involving both international investment deception and local charity scams.
According to a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests were made through coordinated efforts by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja. The two individuals, identified as Robert Harms, a Canadian citizen, and Ms. Okeke Njaka, a Nigerian national, were apprehended in different operations tied to separate cases.
Robert Harms was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on February 7, 2025, just as he was attempting to escape to Canada.
Police investigations showed that he had lured a Nigerian company, Tepison Enterprises based in Akwa Ibom, into investing $210,000 in a fake Canadian energy project. Harms claimed the funds would support a Waste-to-Energy venture that would yield $30,000 profit within a month.
“Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated ‘capital project bond,’” the police said.
The funds were allegedly channeled through a Bureau de Change in Abuja before being wired to an account in Dubai. Investigators also found that Harms forged documents, including a “Project Bridge Loan Agreement,” and falsely presented himself as a partner of VDQ-NRG Systems Limited—a claim the real company has denied.
After his arrest, Harms admitted receiving the funds and breaching the terms of the agreement. He was arraigned on May 9, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Uyo. The case has been postponed until May 20, with Harms remanded in Uyo Custodial Centre.
In a related but separate case, INTERPOL officers also re-arrested Ms. Okeke Njaka, who had been on the run after being charged with cybercrimes and fraud. Njaka was initially arrested in Anambra on January 4, 2025, for cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and obtaining money under false pretence. After being granted bail, she disappeared and was declared wanted in 2021 through a Special Police Gazette Bulletin.
Njaka was captured again on May 8, 2025, in 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,” the police said.
She is scheduled to appear before the Federal High Court on May 13, 2025.
Her foundation, Ogechi Helping Hands, is also under legal scrutiny for reportedly defrauding Nigerians of ₦452,821,982 through a false medical aid program. The foundation and two associates—Emeka Ezeogbo and Tolotolo Family Foundation—are being tried in court over the case.
Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, noted the force’s ongoing determination to tackle cybercrime and financial scams. He advised Nigerians to conduct proper background checks and alert authorities about any suspicious dealings.
“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.
