EFCC arraigns three for visa fraud in Oyo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought three suspects to court in Oyo State, Nigeria, on charges related to a significant visa fraud scheme. Motunrayo Emmanuel, Awotunde Olugbenga, and Idowu Sunday were arraigned before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

The prosecution presented a 47-count charge detailing allegations of forgery, uttering forged documents, and obtaining money by false pretense. The total sum involved in the alleged fraud amounts to N23,404,600. Specific charges detail how Emmanuel and Olugbenga allegedly defrauded individuals by promising valid Canadian visas and flight tickets, demands that were known to be false.

One count cited in the charges states that the defendants obtained N527,000 from Oluwatobi Adeoluwa Iyanda by falsely claiming they could secure a Canadian visa and flight ticket. Another charge details the creation and use of a forged Canadian visa dated June 20, 2025, for Iyanda Oluwatobi Adeoluwa. The accused have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court has adjourned the case to August 26, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application, and the defendants have been remanded in Agodi Correctional Centre.