Prophetess Nabbed For Using Police Uniform To Dupe People

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A prophetess, Mrs. Jumoke Mutaru, of the Celestial Church of Christ, Itire Parish, Lagos has landed in trouble after she was arrested for using the Nigeria Police uniform to defraud innocent people.

The suspect was arrested with her accomplice, one Mr. Uzoma Johnson, while their principal, Pastor Johnson Oni, was said to be on the run and now at large.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Mrs. Mutaru and Mr. Johnson were paraded by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal at the Command, Ikeja, Lagos.

The police boss said that there was a public outcry that a group of persons clad in Police T-shirts and black berets were going door to door extorting money from the public under the guise of security alert. He said in the light of that, the DPO of Alakara Police Division swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene and arrested Mrs. Jumoke Mutaru who resided at 10, Isiba Street in Itire, Lagos.
Also arrested was another suspect, Mr. Uzoma Johnson, 29, who resided at Avana Street, off Bayo Oyewole Street Okota, Lagos.

During interrogation, Edgal said that the suspects confessed and revealed that they had been in the business for the past 15 years. They also claimed to have been trained for six months by one Pastor Johnson Oni who was the founder of The Chosen Ministry located at 24, Association Avenue in Ijeshatedo along the Apapa-Oshodi expressway, Lagos.

CP Edgal said that the police recovered black T-shirts, black berets with police insignia, assorted documents and certificates suspected to be fake and cash sum of N4,300.

They were said to have printed certificates titled Police Security Alerts with printed numbers which they compelled people to buy as police numbers for any emergencies in their area. It was not confirmed if the numbers were real or fake as the police did not disclose them.

The police boss said that efforts were been made to arrest their principal who had gone into hiding and the suspects will be charged to court for impersonation and extortion.

The suspects admitted and explained that they did not know that what they were doing was a criminal offence and promised that they will not engage in such any longer if they were set free.