The Cross River State Police has arrested a 39-year-old man, Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme. He is accused of pretending to be a medical doctor and tricking a woman into giving him N500,000. He promised to help her children get jobs at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
The police spokesperson, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, shared this news in a statement to reporters on Tuesday in Calabar.
The statement said officers from the Uwanse Division in Calabar South Local Government Area caught Ekpeme after Mrs Edemawan Samuel filed a complaint. She claimed that Ekpeme misled her into believing he was a real doctor and convinced her to pay him N500,000 to secure jobs for her kids at UCTH.
Eitokpah mentioned that early investigations showed the suspect used this false identity to trick the woman into handing over the money. Detectives also found items linked to the alleged crime, and Ekpeme is currently in police custody.
The statement read, "The Cross River State Police Command has arrested one Udeme Emmanuel Ekpeme, male, aged 39, over allegations of impersonation, obtaining money by false pretence, and the unlawful use of medical equipment.
"The suspect was arrested by police officers from Uwanse Division, Calabar South Local Government Area, after a complaint from Mrs Edemawan Samuel, 45. She reported that the suspect posed as a medical doctor and fraudulently took Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦500,000) from her, promising to help her children get jobs at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
"Early investigations suggest the suspect used false claims to deceive the complainant into giving him money. Police recovered relevant items believed to be connected to the case during the investigation. The suspect is now in police custody."
The police spokesperson noted that the Commissioner of Police, Rashid Afegbua, has ordered the investigators to look deeper into the case. They need to find out the full extent of the suspect’s actions and see if there are more victims or accomplices.
He added that if they gather enough evidence, the suspect will face charges in court. "The Command is actively conducting an investigation into the matter to find out the full extent of the suspect’s actions and identify any other possible victims or accomplices. Once the investigation is complete, the suspect will be taken to court if there is enough evidence. The public will receive further updates as the investigation continues," the statement concluded.
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