According to a statement released on Tuesday by Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, the arrests mark a major breakthrough in the fight against transnational financial crimes.
The investigation began after a formal petition was filed by Tepison Enterprises, a company based in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The company claimed it was defrauded by Harms, who was introduced to them through a Polaris Bank account officer in June 2023.
Harms allegedly convinced Tepison Enterprises to invest in a fake Waste-to-Energy Project in Canada. Under this pretense, the company transferred $210,000 for a non-existent “capital project bond” with a promised return of $30,000 within four weeks. However, the returns were never delivered.
Police investigations revealed that Harms created a fake Project Bridge Loan Agreement and arranged for the funds to be sent to an account in Dubai through Allah Mai Girma Bureau de Change in Abuja. Authorities also confirmed that Harms had no genuine connection to VDQ-NRG Systems Limited, the Canadian company he claimed to represent. The company’s CEO denied any knowledge of Harms.
Harms was arrested by INTERPOL operatives on February 7, 2025, at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while trying to flee to Canada. He admitted to receiving the funds and breaching the investment agreement.
He was formally charged at the Federal High Court in Uyo on April 22, 2025. On May 9, 2025, Harms was arraigned and remanded at the Uyo Custodial Centre. The case has been adjourned to a later date in May.
The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to tackling cybercrime and financial fraud both locally and internationally.
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