See Photo: Man impersonates policeman for 12 years

The police in Lagos have arrested 33-year-old Godwin Akhenamen, who allegedly claimed to be a policeman for about 12 years.

Akhenamen was arrested on Tuesday, June 30, by policemen attached to the X-squad Department around the Ikeja area.Punch gathered that Akhenamen, who was arrested in uniform, was apprehended while on a fake duty post in a business district.

A police source said the suspect wore a uniform meant for spy policemen, while the force number on his uniform was “unusual”.

It was gathered that some policemen near the area confronted Akhenamen and when he failed to produce his identity card, he was arrested.

It was learnt that the suspect, however, held on to his claim as a policeman, adding that his uniform was abnormal as a result of a fault by his fashion designer.However, when he was whisked to the X-squad office, it was learnt that Akhenamen confessed to the crime, adding that he had never used the uniform to arrest or intimidate anyone.

Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the suspected fake policeman said he got the uniform to seek favours.

He said, 

“My dream has always been to be a policeman, but I dropped out of school before I could get the desired qualification to enlist officially in the Nigeria Police Force. In 2003, I applied to join the spy police, but I was rejected.

“When all efforts to join the police failed, I arranged with a tailor to sew a police uniform for me to survive.With the uniform, I got free transport and other favours. Also, the people in my compound respect me because they think that I am a policeman.”

When asked if he knew the IG, Solomon Arase, he replied,

 “Who is Arase? I don’t know him. The name sounds familiar though. I am the only one who knows that I am a fake policeman.”

  The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, said the suspect would be charged to court soon.