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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

EFCC arrests two over N68m visa fraud in Enugu

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Ongoing story
  • The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested two individuals in Enugu for allegedly defrauding 24 victims of N68.02 million through a fake visa scheme.
  • The suspects, CEO of Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited and another individual, are accused of collecting money for work visas abroad but failing to deliver or providing forged documents.
  • Investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will face charges upon completion, with allegations including transferring funds to a co-conspirator and issuing fake documents.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended the CEO of Goodben Global Travels and Tour Limited and an associate in Enugu, Nigeria, over an alleged N68.02 million visa fraud scheme. The operation followed petitions from 24 victims who claimed the company obtained substantial sums by promising work visas abroad.

However, after receiving the money, Mrs Nchekwube blatantly refused to deliver the visas to my clients as agreed, rather, she converted the money to her personal use.

— James IkechukwuA petitioner detailing his experience with the alleged visa fraud.

Operatives of the EFCC's Enugu Zonal Directorate made the arrests after receiving complaints that the suspects collected money under false pretenses. One petitioner, James Ikechukwu, alleged he paid N57.62 million to the company for visas for his clients. He stated that the CEO, identified as Mrs. Nchekwube, initially refused to deliver the visas and later provided forged documents for some clients.

After much persistence for her to deliver the work visas, she delivered some visas to some of my clients but to our greatest surprise, it was discovered that the visas/Offer Letters were forged to make my clients believe that they were genuine

— James IkechukwuDescribing the discovery of forged visa documents provided by the company.

During the investigation, Nchekwube reportedly claimed she transferred the funds to a second suspect, Rogers Eruku, also known as Bakary Rogers Yanni. She alleged that Eruku presented himself as capable of procuring visas globally and was responsible for the forged documents. Another victim, Oranezi David Chinedu, accused Eruku of collecting N10.4 million for visas for himself and three friends, only to provide fake documents.

I was highly disappointed at the criminal act by Bakary Rogers Yanni to have collected money for visa processing purposes only to issue me and my friends fake documents

— Oranezi David ChineduExpressing disappointment with the suspect accused of providing forged documents.

The EFCC confirmed that both suspects would be charged in court once investigations conclude. The commission stated that the suspects would face legal action as soon as the probe is finalized, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes and fraud in the region.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded

— EFCCThe commission's statement on the legal proceedings following the arrests.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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