Three suspects have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the family and friends of Head, Criminal Investigation Department of the Ogun State Police Command, Bode Ojajuni, of N1.1 million after pretending to be seeking financial assistance.

The Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, disclosed this on Monday, at the command headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, during the parade of suspects arrested for various crimes.

Mr Ogunlowo said 31-year-old Tolani Jeremiah, 20-year-old Akande Suru, and 24-year-old Edwin Jatto, nabbed at their hideout in Edo State, committed the fraud by hacking into the WhatsApp account of Mr Ojajuni, who is also a deputy police commissioner.

“The suspects hacked the WhatsApp account linked to GSM number 08034062773 belonging to DCP Bode Ojajuni of the State CID, Eleweran. Using the account, they deceived the victim’s friends and family into transferring funds to a Moniepoint account: 6862703892, bearing the name Ichioma Ojo. They defrauded their victims of N1,115,000,” Mr Ogunlowo said.

The commissioner said investigation noted that the suspects used a Gmail account (akandesuru342@gmail.com) to bypass WhatsApp’s one-time password security system.

Mr Ogunlowo stated, “The suspects confessed to the crime and are part of an internet fraud syndicate preying on innocent citizens.’’

The commissioner also said a Redmi Android phone and other devices used for their hacking activities were seized from the suspects.