The Ogun State Police Command has arrested 23 foreign nationals over alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences in the Onipanu-Ota area of the state.
The suspects were arrested on August 4 by operatives of the Atan-Ota Divisional Police Headquarters following credible intelligence on alleged fraudulent activities being carried out at a gated residential building within an estate off Iyana Iyesi, Onipanu-Ota.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, the operation was conducted at about 11:00am after the police received information about suspicious activities at the location.
Babaseyi said the operatives promptly mobilised to the area, secured the premises and arrested the suspects for further investigation.
He disclosed that one Malian international passport bearing the name Diakite Alfousseini was recovered during the operation.
Following preliminary investigation, the police command handed over 21 of the suspects to the Nigeria Immigration Service on August 5 for further investigation into their immigration status and appropriate action.
However, two of the suspects were retained by the police for possible prosecution over alleged obtaining by false pretence and other related offences.
The command said investigations were ongoing to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the alleged fraudulent activities and determine whether other individuals were connected to the scheme.
The police assured that further developments would be made public as the investigation progresses.
