Police arrest ‘Army Colonel’ for attempting to dupe monarch

[Mirror]

Men of the Ogun State police command have arrested an 'Army Colonel' who allegedly was attempting to dupe a monarch in the state.

The man, identified as Hassan Ayinde, 50 years old, was said to have hailed from Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State and was arrested in the palace of the Alagbado of Agbado, Oba Adedayo Shyllum, while attempting to dupe the monarch.

A statement from the command's Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, said the suspect was picked up on Monday, October 14, at about 2.00pm while he claimed to be a Colonel and the Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Adejobi, in the statement, said the monarch became suspicious of the colonel and his claims, believing that anyone who claimed to be a colonel and ADC to the President should not be soliciting for financial assistance to be able to purchase ram for sallah.

The PPRO further said that the status of the suspect compelled the traditional ruler to immediately alert the police in Agbado and the colonel was arrested.

"On interrogation, Hassan confessed to be a dismissed Air Force officer, but has been impersonating a colonel to make ends meet."

Adejobi said the suspect claimed to have attended a military school in 1979 and was posted to Zuru in Kebbi State as Lance Corporal before he eventually attended the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) between 1980 and 1985.

"The fake colonel said he worked with the Presidency in 1997 before he was dismissed in the year 1999 as a Wing Commander."

Adejobi added that the contradicting statement of the suspect, who also claimed to be residing at the National Defence College, gave a clear indication of an impersonator.

He also said that Hassan is presently cooling his heels at the police custody in Eleweran, Abeokuta, adding that he would soon be charged to court upon police's completion of their investigation.

The police, however, appealed to members of the general public to beware of such fraudsters, who may want to dupe them of their hard-earned money and always contact the police whenever they observe such.

Source: Police arrest 'Army Colonel' for attempting to dupe monarch