Eloho Okpoziakpo has been appointed the 34th commissioner of police at the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos. He was redeployed from the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where he served as commissioner of police (training) at the Department of Training and Development. The unit's spokesperson, Ovie Ewhubare, confirmed the appointment in a statement. Mr Okpoziakpo officially took over at the PSFU headquarters in Ikoyi, bringing more than 30 years of policing experience, particularly in fraud investigation, cybercrime, and financial intelligence.
A native of Isoko South Local Government Area in Delta State, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Jos and a Master's degree in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos. He joined the police force on June 10, 1994, as a cadet assistant superintendent. His career includes leadership roles in the Cybercrimes and Internet Fraud, Banking Fraud, Anti-Money Laundering, and General Investigation sections of the PSFU. He previously led the Police Dedicated Electronic and Card Crime Fraud Unit and the Special Investigation Unit.
Mr Okpoziakpo has coordinated high-level investigations involving the Central Bank of Nigeria, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency. In his first address, he demanded professionalism, accountability, and strict operational discipline. He ordered that all cases be vetted by the Legal Section before prosecution and mandated timely documentation. Pending cases will be reviewed to prevent delays, and arbitrary arrests will not be tolerated. Performance will be judged by prosecutions and convictions, in line with the inspector general's zero tolerance for corruption. He emphasized respect for human rights and assured the public of improved service delivery in the fight against fraud.
Appointing a commissioner with deep roots in fraud and cybercrime units suggests the police are prioritizing technical competence over political loyalty in this critical Lagos command. Mr Okpoziakpo's emphasis on prosecutions—not arrests—as the metric for success could shift how fraud cases are handled, moving away from public stunts toward actual convictions. Given the PSFU's past reputation for overreach, his directive against arbitrary arrests may matter more to ordinary Nigerians than any new investigations. Whether this translates to fewer prolonged detentions without trial remains the real test.
