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Tag: visa scam

  • Four suspects held over alleged N500m visa scam

    Four suspects held over alleged N500m visa scam

    •One nabbed over N1.5m bribe

    Four individuals have been arrested in Lagos for their involvement in a visa scam amounting to N500 million.

    The suspects — Blessing Wefsutu, 27, Chineye Christian, 36, Archibong Udeme Ifereke, 23, and Maurine Peter, 25, —  who are staff members of an educational consultancy firm in Ago Okota, Lagos targeted over 100 unsuspecting Nigerians with false promises of overseas employment.

    According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspects were apprehended by operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), following a transfer of the case from the Ago Okota Division, where the initial complaints were lodged.

    “Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects fraudulently obtained N500 million from more than 100 victims under the false pretext of securing Canadian and Australian work visas,”  Hundeyin said in a statement.

    The victims allegedly paid various sums in exchange for promised job placements abroad — opportunities which never materialised.

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    Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, urged the public to remain cautious and verify any travel or recruitment agency before making financial commitments.

    Also, operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested one Yahaya Saleh, a 40, for attempting to bribe police investigators with N1.5million.

     In a statement yesterday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Josephine Adeh said the officers declined the offer and initiated legal procedures, leading to Saleh’s arrest.

     She said the Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale commended the officers for their conduct and assured the public that the command “remains resolute in its stance against corruption and interference with justice”.

  • Travel agent in ‘N300,000 visa scam’

    An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday granted a 51-year-old travel agent, John Osehaenyi, N100,000 bail, following his arraignment for alleged N300,000 visa scam and forgery.

    Magistrate M. I Dan-Oni ordered Osehaenyi to provide a surety, who must be employed and show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned till March 7.

    Osehaenyi pleaded not guilty.

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    Prosecuting Inspector Victor Eruada alleged that the defendant committed the offence on October 15, last year, in Ikeja.

    He said the defendant collected N300,000 from Mr. Ayodele Ajenifuja on the pretext of helping him to procure a Canadian visa, but failed to do so.

    “Osehaenyi forged a Canadian Embassy’s appointment letter for biometric capturing dated January 9 and presented it to Ajenifuja. It was later discovered to be forged.

    “Attempts by the complainant (Ajenifuja) to collect his money proved unsuccessful, as the defendant refused to pick calls.

    “He reported the case to the police, and the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

     

  • Travel agent arrested for ‘N1.7m visa scam’

    Travel agent arrested for ‘N1.7m visa scam’

    The police in Lagos have arrested an unregistered travel agent, Benjamin Danbawa, for allegedly duping an Aba, Abia State-based trader of N1,703,000.

    The Nation learnt that the trader, Ifeanyi Chikwelu, 28, came to Lagos from Aba, in March last year to seek a visa to Canada.

    He reportedly met Danbawa, 41, at the German Consulate on Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos, who introduced himself as a travel agent and offered to assist him in securing a visa.

    Danbawa allegedly told Chikwelu that an application for a Canadian or United States of America (USA) visa would not be in his favour since both embassies preferred to give visas to elderly people.

    He advised Chikwelu to seek a German or South African visa.

    The suspect, from Kachia Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, allegedly billed Chikwelu various sums totalling N1,703,000.

    They are Visa Application Fee N150,000, Acceptance Fee ‘as a fresher in Canada’ N98,000 and Temporary Residence Fee N400,000.

    Others are N400,000 to put Chikwelu’s bank account in order, N35,000 for hotel reservation, another N35,000 for a cancelled hotel reservation and N70,000 as agent services.

    They also included N35,000 for photos, N150,000 for work permit in Canada and $300 for sending documents to Canada.

    Danbawa was subsequently arrested last month by policemen in  Victoria Island Division following a complaint that he disappeared after collecting the money.

    A police source said investigations showed that Danbawa was neither registered with, nor was an employee of the Canadian High Commission.

    He was arraigned before Mrs. O. M. Ajayi of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos last Friday on two-count charge of obtaining by pretence and stealing.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the offence contravened Sections 312 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    Danbawa denied the charge and Magistrate Ajayi granted him N500,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum.

    The case was adjourned till August 17.

  • Lagos police arrest Indian for alleged visa scam

    The police have arrested an Indian based in Dubai, Mohammed Shazul, for allegedly procuring a Dubai visa using a Nigerian’s name without his consent.

    Sources close to the Federal Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (FCIID) Annex, Alagbon Close, Lagos, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

    The source said operatives from the FCIID arrested Shazul after a petition by Ayodotun Babalola to the police.

    It said the Indian, Vice-President of Fast Logistics Solution Group, an air cargo company in Dubai was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Monday on arrival from Dubai.

    “When the Inspector-General of Police got the petition dated August 19, he sent it through the DIG, FCIID to the “X’’ Squad Annex, Lagos for investigation.

    “The operatives have been on the trail of the suspect and others involved in the crime.

    “After his arrest at the airport, he phoned some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives, who after speaking with police told him to follow the operatives to Alagbon,’’ the source told NAN.

    A copy of the petition, made available to NAN, alleged that the suspect, the President of the company, one Al-Ameen Kerala and others, used his international passport data page to obtain visa without his consent.

    The petition indicated that they allegedly used his name to obtain the visa and held on to it to prevent him from travelling to Dubai to transact his business with other companies.

    “I am still being intimidated and my rights are being abused by depriving me of travelling to Dubai for business.

    “This has cost me breach of contracts and defamation of character internationally.

    “I am pleading with the police to help me to retrieve my visa and also stop them from harming my family and I in the future,’’ the petition said.

    Speaking to NAN, Babalola said Al-Ameen Kerala was his business partner, adding that the relationship turned sour when he demanded for 49 per cent shares in the company.

    Babalola said he was shocked when he attempted to obtain visa to Dubai but was told that he had earlier obtained one.

    He said after his investigation; he was able to trace the visa scam to one Citadel Toss company.

    “I applied for a visa to Dubai only to discover that my name has been used to obtain a visa without my knowledge. The company is Citadel Toss Company.

    “When I contacted Citadel Toss Company, they told me they have strict instruction from their client, (the suspect) not to hand over the visa to anybody even if the owner comes, until further instruction from him.

    “Their plan was to ensure that I don’t get a visa to Dubai to do my business.

    “I see my visa as my personal document and on that note I couldn’t travel again because I was restricted.

    “I had to petition the Inspector-General of Police to complain officially to seek redress on the matter,’’ the complainant said.

    Babalola said currently, one of the directors of the company, who is also an accomplice, had been arrested in Lagos.

    “He is being questioned by the police. There was a meeting scheduled for both parties by the police on Wednesday, at FCIID, Alagbon Close,’’ he said.

    Police spokesman at the FCIID Annex Achibong Asukwor confirmed the arrest, saying the Indian was released on bail on Monday night after questioning.

    Asukwor said the police had begun investigation into the matter.

    When NAN encountered the suspect and his counsel who refused to mention his name at the EFCC office, Ikoyi, on Wednesday, they declined to comment on the matter.

  • 52-year-old man faces N2m visa scam

    A 52-year-old man, Udosi Eke, who allegedly obtained N2 million on the pretext of securing travel documents for a woman, was on Wednesday charged before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Eke, who resides at Iganmu area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.

    Prosecutor Kingsley Jackson told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 10 at No. 14, Navy Barrack, Ajegunle, Apapa.

    He said Eke with others still at large collected N2 million from the complainant, Mrs Patience James, with a promise to secure for her travel documents.

    Cpl. Jackson said the accused converted the money to his personal use.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretences, while Section 409 stipulates two years sentence for conspiracy.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr. Mukaila Fadeyi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till Oct.17 for mention.