The Nigeria Police Force, Airport Police Command, has arrested a ₦1 billion romance fraud suspect at Lagos airport, marking a major breakthrough in intelligence-led crime prevention. The suspect was intercepted while attempting to leave Nigeria, following months of surveillance. Investigators say the arrest underscores renewed efforts to prevent airport corridors from being exploited by organised fraud networks operating across international borders.
According to a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Adeola, the suspect, identified as Essien Emmanuel Akpama, is alleged to have defrauded multiple victims in the United States of America of sums exceeding ₦1,000,000,000, equivalent to more than one million United States dollars. The Police said the suspect’s proceeds were traced through digital and financial intelligence, leading to his eventual interception.
Akpama, a 20-year-old male, was arrested on 5 January 2026 by operatives of the Anti-Fraud Unit attached to the Airport Police Command. He was apprehended while attempting to board an outbound flight from Lagos. Police sources said the arrest followed sustained intelligence gathering and monitoring, based on credible information linking the suspect to international romance and celebrity fraud schemes.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect previously resided in Calabar, Cross River State, before relocating to Lagos on 23 February 2024. From Lagos, investigators say Akpama coordinated and executed several fraudulent operations targeting victims overseas. The Police noted that the suspect exploited online platforms and false identities to gain victims’ trust before soliciting funds under fabricated humanitarian and investment narratives.
In one case recorded in 2024, the suspect allegedly deceived a 47-year-old female victim in the United States into transferring one million dollars. The funds were solicited under the pretext of purchasing property in Florida for an orphanage. Investigators disclosed that the transaction was routed through a cryptocurrency investment scheme known as “BullRun 2.0,” previously referred to as “4 Way Mirror Money,” which the suspect allegedly used to conceal financial trails.
Further findings showed that the suspect also targeted elderly victims. In another case, a 70-year-old female victim in the United States was defrauded of ₦25,709,400, equivalent to $18,000. Police said the suspect instructed the victim to purchase gift cards, premium mobile phones, and computer equipment, which were later shipped to Nigeria at his direction, reinforcing the deception through continued online contact.
Recovered items linked to the suspect include a MacBook Pro 14-inch, an iPhone 17 Pro Max, two Google Pixel 10 Pro XL devices, and one Google Pixel 10 Pro, collectively valued at ₦8,141,367. Investigators revealed that the suspect posed as a 60-year-old orthopaedic surgeon working with the United Nations in Nigeria. He allegedly claimed the devices were required to maintain secure communications with victims, further strengthening his false identity.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police, Airport Police Command, CP Ogunbode Olufunke, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to block criminal elements from using airports as escape routes. She said the arrest of Akpama demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration within Nigeria’s aviation security framework.
CP Ogunbode emphasised that airport environments remain high-risk zones for transnational crime, therefore requiring constant surveillance and proactive policing. She added that the Command would continue to deploy technology, intelligence, and personnel to detect, disrupt, and dismantle criminal networks operating within and around Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem.
The Police confirmed that the case has been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Special Fraud Unit (NPF-SFU) for further investigation. Authorities stated that the suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations. Meanwhile, the Police urged members of the public to remain cautious when engaging in online relationships and investment opportunities, particularly those involving requests for funds or digital assets.
The arrest, analysts say, highlights Nigeria’s growing focus on tackling cyber-enabled financial crimes at critical transport gateways. It also reinforces the strategic role of airport policing in preventing suspects from evading justice through international travel.
