Woman arrested for alleged ₦42.3 million visa fraud in Nigeria's Ondo State

Police in Nigeria's Ondo State have apprehended a 33-year-old woman, Adejoke Ayomide, accused of defrauding more than 90 individuals of ₦42.3 million. The alleged scam involved promises of securing visas to European countries like Spain, Portugal, and France.

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Acting on these representations, the victims entrusted her with processing travel documents for more than 93 intending travellers. The suspect allegedly received a cumulative sum of ₦42,326,000.00 through her Opay account for the purported visa processing. Rather than fulfil her obligations, the suspect allegedly became unreachable after receiving the funds, prompting the victims to petition the Police.

According to a police source, the arrest stemmed from a petition filed on July 17, 2026. Victims reportedly entrusted Ayomide, a resident of Abeokuta, Ogun State, with processing travel documents between October 2024 and April 2026. The cumulative sum of ₦42,326,000.00 was allegedly transferred to her Opay account for these purported services.

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Following sustained intelligence-led operations, the suspect was successfully tracked down and apprehended on August 5, 2026, in a coordinated operation by detectives of the Command.

After receiving the funds, Ayomide allegedly became unreachable, prompting the victims to seek police intervention. Detectives utilized intelligence gathering and forensic techniques to track and apprehend the suspect on August 5, 2026. The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Jimoh Abayomi, confirmed Ayomide is in custody and has provided "useful confessional statements."

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Efforts are ongoing to unravel the full scope of the alleged fraudulent scheme, identify possible accomplices and establish whether there are additional victims. Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect will be charged to court accordingly.

Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the full extent of the alleged scheme, identify any potential accomplices, and ascertain if more victims exist. The police urged the public to exercise caution and verify the credentials of travel agents before making payments, emphasizing their commitment to combating fraud.

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Prospective travellers should exercise due diligence and promptly report any suspicious or fraudulent activities to the nearest Police Station. The Ondo State Police Command, he said “remains resolute in its commitment to protecting residents from fraud and other criminal activities.”