This was revealed in a statement released on Wednesday by DSP Unwana Imah, Acting Police Public Liaison Officer, NPF-NCCC, Abuja.

The statement identified Urowhe Diana, 39, and her daughter Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, 22, as the suspects.

According to the police, preliminary investigations showed that Rokibat’s stepfather, Emmanuel Amanfo, a native of Lagos who is now at large, reportedly plotted with her to open and manage many bank accounts that were used for illegal transactions.

The statement further stated that money transfer companies and direct transfers into many Rokibat bank accounts in Nigeria were used to transfer the proceeds of the alleged romance fraud.

Investigators further claimed that the money was then transferred into Urowhe Diana’s Ecobank account, where it was purportedly squandered.

“After receiving an intelligence report from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center is currently investigating a case involving computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering,” the statement stated.

According to preliminary investigations, Emmanuel Amanfo, a Lagos State resident who is presently at large, allegedly plotted to open and manage many bank accounts for fraudulent purposes with his 22-year-old stepdaughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“A resident of Malta, whose identity has been hidden, was recognized as one of their victims.

Subsequent inquiries revealed that money was deposited directly into a number of Rokibat Imoru-owned Nigerian bank accounts via Money Transfer Operators.

“After being received, the money was moved into her mother Urowhe Diana’s 39-year-old Ecobank account, where the proceeds were purportedly spent.”

The mother and daughter were arrested for allegedly actively participating in the romantic scam operation, according to the police, after forensic examination of the suspects’ digital footprints.

The statement said that Amanfo, who was identified as Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru’s stepfather and Urowhe Diana’s spouse, was being sought.

The police also stated that the investigation was still in progress and that the suspects will face charges in court when it was finished. The NPF-NCCC reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s dedication to fighting cybercrime and safeguarding Nigeria’s internet, under the direction of Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu.

Additionally, the center asked the public to use its official reporting channels to report any suspected cyber-related activity.