The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a Canadian national, Robert Harms, and a Nigerian woman, Okeke Njaka, for their alleged involvement in major cyber and financial crimes totalling over N452 million and $210,000.
According to a statement released on Monday by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the arrests were coordinated by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau in Abuja as part of ongoing efforts to tackle transnational financial crime.
Harms was apprehended in connection with a $210,000 fraudulent investment scheme that targeted Tepison Enterprises, an Akwa Ibom-based company. The suspect was introduced to the firm in June 2023 through a Polaris Bank account officer and persuaded the company to invest in a fake Canadian Waste-to-Energy Project, promising a $30,000 return within a month.
“Under this pretence, Tepison Enterprises transferred $210,000 to secure a fabricated ‘capital project bond,’” the police said.
Investigations revealed that Harms forged a “Project Bridge Loan Agreement” and funneled the funds through a Bureau de Change in Abuja to a Dubai account. He also falsely claimed ties with VDQ-NRG Systems Limited — a claim denied by the company.
Harms was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on February 7, 2025, while attempting to flee to Canada. He has since been arraigned at the Federal High Court, Uyo, and remanded in the Uyo Custodial Centre. The case is scheduled to continue on May 20, 2025.
In a separate operation, INTERPOL re-arrested Ms. Okeke Njaka, a Nigerian fugitive previously declared wanted in 2021 for alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and financial fraud. She had earlier been arrested in Anambra on January 4, 2025, but absconded while on bail.
Police said Njaka used multiple social media platforms to cyberbully victims and disseminate explicit content. She was arrested in Abuja on May 8, 2025, and is expected to appear before the Federal High Court on May 13.
Njaka is also under investigation for defrauding Nigerians through her NGO, Ogechi Helping Hands Foundation, which allegedly misappropriated N452,821,982 under a fake medical assistance scheme. The foundation and its associates — Emeka Ezeogbo and the Tolotolo Family Foundation — are facing prosecution in Abuja.
Reaffirming the police’s commitment to curbing financial and cybercrimes, Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, urged Nigerians to remain vigilant in international transactions.
“We urge 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,” the police warned.
The force assured continued efforts to protect Nigerians from fraudulent schemes and to pursue justice for victims of cyber-enabled crimes.
