Fake Naval Captain busted as Lagos Taskforce foils bold impersonation scam

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, has arrested three suspected impostors who allegedly posed as officers of the Nigerian Navy in an attempt to defraud residents and obstruct lawful government operations in Lagos.

The arrest followed enforcement activities at Oworonshoki, where illegal shanties and encroachments on government land were being demolished.

The suspects were accused of using fake military identities to intimidate residents, evade arrest and gain undue advantage during official operations.

Investigations revealed that the principal suspect, identified as Mr. James K. Robert, based on the name displayed on his uniform and entries made in the Taskforce visitor’s register, had visited the Taskforce headquarters to demand the release of vehicles removed from the demolition site. The vehicles were allegedly linked to a car lot he claimed to own at the affected location.

According to the Taskforce, the suspect had earlier ignored several statutory notices and repeated appeals to vacate the site before the demolition exercise commenced.

Accompanied by his wife and an alleged orderly, he reportedly appealed for leniency, invoking what he described as “esprit de corps” among uniformed services.

However, when the request was declined in line with established regulations, the suspect allegedly became hostile, issuing threats of confrontation between his supposed naval personnel and Taskforce operatives.

Akerele said his suspicions were raised during a detailed interaction with the suspect, particularly when he was unable to give coherent details about his military posting or command structure.

Further scrutiny revealed inconsistencies in his appearance, including improperly worn service ribbons, missing regimental insignia and an overall presentation inconsistent with that of a senior naval officer.

The Taskforce chairman subsequently contacted the Naval Police unit, which confirmed that the individual was not a serving officer of the Nigerian Navy.

This verification led to the immediate arrest of the suspect and his accomplices.

Akerele disclosed that the suspects had already been under surveillance following repeated confrontations with Taskforce officials during field operations, as well as complaints from members of the public about a man impersonating a naval captain to intimidate residents.

During questioning, the suspect’s wife reportedly admitted she had warned her husband against impersonating military personnel, cautioning that his actions would eventually have consequences.

The Taskforce chairman also noted that his suspicions deepened when the alleged orderly and other accomplices quietly withdrew from the scene shortly before the arrest.

“Before they fully understood what was happening, officers of the Nigerian Navy Military Police were already on ground and took them into custody. They are currently undergoing further investigation,” Akerele said.

He assured Lagos residents that the suspects would be prosecuted by the appropriate military authorities, adding that the arrest should serve as a deterrent to individuals who impersonate security personnel to commit crimes and undermine public trust.

Akerele urged the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious activities through official channels, stressing that criminal elements would not be allowed to find refuge in Lagos State.