An Abuja-based disc jockey, Raymond Terver, popularly known as DJ Ice, has been arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team for allegedly purchasing expensive drinks and other goods using fake payment alerts.
During a press conference on Monday, September 17, the spokesperson for the Police Force, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the suspect sold the drinks and other items through intermediaries to hide his identity.
DJ Ice began his criminal activities in June 2023 and was apprehended after purchasing drinks from a hotel in August using a fraudulent alert. He reportedly made over N8 million from this scheme, which he used to acquire DJ equipment.
ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said: ““The suspect was arrested in August 2024 for purchasing goods using fake payment alerts. He admitted to starting this scheme in June 2024, ordering expensive drinks, particularly Hennessy XO, from the ‘For You’ Hotel and Restaurant in Jabi, Abuja. He would send fake payment receipts via WhatsApp, arrange for a dispatch rider to collect the drinks, and then send them through intermediaries to conceal his identity.
“The restaurant noticed discrepancies in their inventory and reported the issue to the IRT, which led to his arrest. After a thorough investigation, he confessed to making over ₦8 million from this fraud, which he used to buy DJ equipment.”
Speaking to reporters, the suspect explained that economic hardship pushed him into crime.
He said: “The reason I decided to go down this path is because of the hardship we are facing. I was eager to make money and acquire DJ equipment for myself. I have been in this line of business for up to 15 years, and throughout that time, I have been looking for ways to earn money and get equipment.
“I bought the equipment for about ₦5 million. I had not started using it before I was arrested. I bought it in August. I feel very sorry for myself.”
Describing how he carried out the fraud, he said: ““I found the restaurant through Google, contacted them, and if they had the goods, particularly liquor, they confirmed it. I then fabricated a receipt on my computer using the Paint app, sent it to them as proof of payment, and arranged for a dispatch rider to collect the goods. I said I would send a dispatch rider to pick it up, and they agreed. I sent the rider, who collected the goods. That is how I carried out the scheme.”
