Police arrest prophet’s son over alleged ₦18m Facebook fraud

ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Adewale Ogoemi Arojah for allegedly impersonating a renowned cleric on Facebook and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of more than ₦18 million.

The suspect allegedly duplicated the Facebook profile of Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun and used the cleric’s identity to target people seeking prayers and spiritual assistance, according to the police.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babasuyi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the arrest followed a complaint lodged by Akogun on October 3, 2026.

According to the statement, Akogun, who is popularly known on Facebook as “Prophet Dr Muyiwa Akogun”, alerted the police after members of the public began reporting fraudulent activities allegedly being carried out in his name.

Following the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ilaro Division deployed intelligence and detective operatives to identify and apprehend the alleged impersonator.

The command said sustained technological monitoring and intelligence-led analysis led detectives to a village in Ajegunle, along the Ilaro-Ibogun axis, where the suspect was arrested.

The police said the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation to impersonating Akogun on Facebook.

The command quoted him as admitting to using the cleric’s identity to “deliver fake prophecies and offer prayer services to vulnerable individuals”, through which victims in Nigeria and the diaspora were allegedly defrauded.

The police said preliminary investigation indicated that the suspect allegedly targeted people seeking spiritual assistance through the real prophet’s Facebook platform, gained their confidence and collected money from them.

The command put the alleged proceeds of the scheme at more than ₦18 million.

The suspect has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The police said the investigation would determine the full extent of the alleged offences, identify any possible accomplices and establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged transactions before possible prosecution.

The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ilaro operatives for their vigilance, tactical discipline and swift response.

Ojajuni, according to the statement, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting residents from cyber-enabled and conventional criminal activities.

The police also advised members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with religious leaders, celebrities and other public figures on social media.

The command urged residents to verify the authenticity of social media accounts before engaging in financial transactions, particularly where money is requested in exchange for spiritual remedies, prayers or other purported services.