Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended one Joel Mba Okodi, a suspect who has been on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) wanted list for four years.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Grace Iringe-Koko, issued a statement to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the state capital, stating that the suspect was arrested in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State on January 18, 2024.
The statement revealed that Okodi, popularly known as ‘Chief,’ resided at No. 21, Abak Road, Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, and was listed as a Director at Chismo Resources Limited, Ikot-Ekpene.
“He deceitfully collected the sum of ₦50 million from one Chief Okosisi and was arrested by the EFCC after the case was reported.
“While the fraud case was being investigated, the suspect coaxed another victim, Mr. Ochulor Okeokwu, to stand as a surety in the case.
“To secure Okodi’s release, Okeokwu unsuspectingly tendered his house documents worth ₦50 million as collateral at the EFCC Office in Port Harcourt.
“After that, the suspect refused to turn up for investigations at the EFCC office and was nowhere to be found, evading phone calls.
“On the few occasions Okodi was reached via phone calls, he violently threatened Okeokwu to desist from calling him.
“Okeokwu then proceeded to send a petition to the Inspector General of Police, who approved and forwarded it to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, who immediately sprang into action and mandated men of Operation Sting to ensure that the suspect was arrested in the shortest time possible.
“The operatives of the Command then proceeded to carry out a thorough investigation and diligent findings to ascertain the suspect’s location somewhere in Ajegunle, Apapa, Lagos, where he had been hiding all these years.
“The operatives then submitted relevant policing documents, mobilised, and went into Lagos to carry out the arrest on 18/1/2024 at about 2034 hrs at Ajegunle in Lagos.
“The coordinated efforts to carry out the arrest reveal that there was truly no hiding place for criminals.
“The case is currently being handled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu has warned that Rivers State is not a criminal hideout, and there is no room for criminals.”
