Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a suspected fraudster, Osagie Destiny Etinosa, over an alleged N11 million scam that has left a hopeful footballer counting heavy losses.
Acording to the anti-graft agency, Etinosa was apprehended following intelligence gathered through open-source investigations.
He is accused of posing as a professional football agent on Instagram, operating under the handle “@officialking_etto,” where he allegedly lured unsuspecting victims with promises of opportunities abroad.
Investigations revealed that the suspect claimed to specialise in connecting aspiring footballers with foreign clubs for trials and possible recruitment, a dream pathway many young Nigerian players eagerly pursue in search of better careers.
In one of such cases, a victim, Samuel Beke Ohazuruike, was allegedly convinced to part with N11 million after being promised trial opportunities with clubs in Romania and Bulgaria. The opportunity, however, never materialised.
For Ohazuruike, what began as a hopeful step toward an international football career reportedly turned into months of frustration and despair, as repeated efforts to recover his money proved unsuccessful.
The EFCC said the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
