Airport police smash fake COVID-19 certificate racketeers

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) says it has arrested five suspected syndicates, forging fake COVID-19 certificates.

The Commissioner of Police, Airport Command and Aviation Security (AVSEC ) CP Umar Bature disclosed the arrest on Thursday at a news  briefing held at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.

It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government on Dec. 29, 2020,  raised alarm over alleged sale of fake COVID-19 test results in the state.

The government warned that processes were being put in place to clamp down on both buyers and sellers.

Bature said that out of the five suspects, 35-year-old Adewale Aderele was an alleged  guarantor to one of the suspects who was now at large.

The  syndicates include Archibong Idorenyin, 34, owner of DAT  Cyber Cafe, who allegedly forged the Virology Screening test results, Abdulmalik Ibrahim (24) and Moses Sunday (20) who are staff of DAT Internet Cafe.

The other suspect was Popoola Adewale of Patovilki Airport Cleaning Services.

Two of the suspects, 35-year-old Shehu Imam, who allegedly took illicit assignments from the airport to DAT internet cafe for the generation of  fake COVID-19 certificates and Adeola Darlington of Skyblue Services Ltd. were now at large.

According to the commissioner, they  also lure passengers to the airport where various sums are extorted from them. In this case, N50, 000.

“On Feb. 18, Popoola Adewale and Adeola Darlington who have access to all the nooks and crannies of the international airport, approached one Michael Osagbogu who was on a queue of a  London bound aircraft and allegedly offers to help him procure  COVID-19 certificate.

“They however, cornered the passenger to an isolated toilet at the airport where N50, 000 was extorted from him.

“Thereafter, the victim was handed over to Shehu Imam who took him to Archibong Idorenyin, owner of the internet cafe at 4, Oriyomi Street Ikeja.”

According to the commissioner, some of the suspects have taken to their heels but concerted efforts are being made by the combined team of detectives of the airport police command and AVSEC  to track them down.

He also informed that the suspects confessed to the crime and exhibits, including N50,000 and laptops used to generate the fake COVID-19 certificates as well as the certificates being used as exhibits.

“They will soon be charged to court where justice will take its course,” Umar promised.

The airport police command however, warned that the public should follow due process in obtaining or procuring COVID-19 certificates to avoid unscrupulous syndicates.

The CP said the suspects would be charged to court on Friday morning.