Rivers police arrest man wanted by EFCC for four years

• Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday

The Rivers State Police Command apprehended Joel Okodi, also known as ‘Chief,’ a fugitive wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly defrauding Chief Okosisi of N50 million.

While under investigation, Okodi, with Mr. Ochulor Okeokwu as a surety, used house documents worth N50 million as collateral for release at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Office.

Despite evading investigations and threats against Okeokwu, the police, acting on a petition, successfully arrested Okodi under the directive of Commissioner Olatunji Disu. Police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday.

The statement read, “The operatives of the Rivers State Police Command then proceeded to carry out thorough Investigation and diligent finding to ascertain the location of the suspect as somewhere in Ajegunle Apapa in Lagos where he had been in hiding all these years.

“The operatives then submitted relevant policing documents, mobilised, and went to Lagos to carry out the arrest on 18/1/2024 at about 2034hrs at Ajegunle in Lagos.”

While noting that the coordinated efforts that led to the arrest are a testament that there is no hiding place for criminals, Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police said, “The case is currently being handled by the EFCC”.

According to her, the State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, urged members of the public to be mindful of people they want to stand surety for, adding that the command under his watch will make the state too hot for criminal elements.