Operatives of Rapid Response Squad, a unit of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a man Olaitan Shofolahan, for impersonating officials of the Lagos State Land Use Charge.

Shofolahan, an Accounting graduate of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested in Lekki Phase one, in Eti–Osa Local Government while attempting to defraud a resident of several millions Land Use Charge dues.

The suspect, who was working in his brother’s audit firm in Sabo, Yaba area of Lagos before abandoning the job in search of better offer, stated that his moves to join the Lagos State Public Service was frustrated by lack of vacancy.

According to the suspect, “I was working with my brother in his audit firm in Sabo, Yaba, earning N45, 000 monthly salary before I left the firm in search of employment.

I was at Lagos State Civil Service Commission several times to seek employment. It was during one of my visits that I learnt that payment for Land Use Charge in the state is through a code. The code is engraved on every metal sticker issued to every house”.

Shofolahan explained further; “since I have been impersonating, I have only realised N30, 000 which I collected from an home owner in Alausa while pretending to be an official of the State. I have not collected any other money apart from that. Each and every time I visited these buildings, they ask me to come back later”.

Found with the suspect after his arrest were five land use bills with varied charges above N1 million and a forged identity card of The Lagos State Government.

Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer, Olarinde Famous-Cole, said there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state, saying officers of the command were at alert to nip crime in the bud.

Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for further investigations.