By Christopher Oji
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, Margaret Agabe Ochalla, has read the riot acts to fraudsters, to either turn a new leaf or face the wrath of the unit.
Ochalla, who just resumed as the CP of the unit, said she would apply cutting-edge technology to track, arrest and prosecute fraudsters and other cybercrime perpetrators.
The woman CP, who spoke at the weekend during her maiden press briefing as the 29th CP of the unit, said, “the PSFU is a section of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), where serious and complex cases are treated. I will strengthen the unit with training and retraining of officers, among others. We are going to re-strategise against all crime perpetrators and they will be duly apprehended and prosecuted by legal process if found necessary. I want to reiterate my warning to internet fraudsters, among other notorious cybercrime perpetrators, to desist and repent, or face severe legal punishment.”
She promised to assist fraud victims to get justice without fear or favour and to recover their losses.
She also promised to collaborate with stakeholders, to ensure adequate policing of the state, as she possessed a wealth of experience in investigation and criminology.
“I will synergise closely with stakeholders, such as Fintechs,Telcos, Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc(NIBSS), Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Lagos State
Judiciary, Federal High Courts, and the diplomatic community, adding, “above all, it is my vision to make the PSFU a leading national, professional, and efficient fraud investigation Unit that is
dynamic, robust, and efficient.”
She called on members of the public to feel free to report any cybercrime or fraud to the unit, as they would be treated with fairness and equity.