Fawaz Adebisi
A man who claimed to be a staff of River State University (RSU) and collected money from unsuspecting job seekers has been arrested by the police.
The suspect, Philip Odereghi Oghoghonn, also allegedly took advantage of some female victims sexually when they could not pay him in cash.
According to a statement issued by the RSU Registrar, Dr. Enyindah Enyindahn, on Wednesday, Oghoghonn is an imposter who has no affiliation with the university.
The statement warned the public to be wary of impostors and fraudsters who promise to offer jobs at the university, which completed its recruitment last year with the approval of the Rivers State Government.
Oghoghonn was apprehended on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, at the premises of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Choba, by some of his victims who recognized him and raised an alarm.
He was rescued from being lynched by the UPTH security operatives and handed over to the police.
Oghoghonn was accused of defrauding desperate job seekers by promising them academic and non-academic positions at RSU.
He allegedly asked them to pay between 250,000 and 450,000 naira each to secure the jobs.
One of the victims, Otavaino Stephens, who spoke on behalf of others, said they paid Oghoghonn since last year March/April but did not get any employment.
He said they had been calling him repeatedly but he kept giving them false assurances.
The arrest of Oghoghonn was facilitated by a human rights organization, Centre for Basic Rights Protection And Accountability Campaign, which had been tracking his activities since last year December.
The National Coordinator of the organization, Prince Wiro, a journalist and human rights advocate, said he got credible intelligence that led to the arrest of Oghoghonn.
Wiro called on RSU to make a clear statement on the claims by Oghoghonn that he was working with some powerful persons in the university to give people employment.
He also demanded that the matter should be investigated and justice should be served.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest of Oghoghonn and assured that investigations will commence immediately.
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