Police Arraign Visa Agent Over Alleged N7.6 Million Fraud in Ibadan

Magistrate Court

Police Arraign Visa Agent Over Alleged N7.6 Million Fraud in Ibadan

IBADAN — The police on Monday arraigned a 36-year-old visa agent, Lawal Idris, before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly defrauding an intending emigrant, Atinuke Adeoso, of N7.6 million under the pretence of procuring Canadian or Spanish work visas for her, in a case that highlights the growing epidemic of visa fraud in Nigeria, where unlicensed agents exploit the desperation of citizens seeking to travel abroad in search of better opportunities. The defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty, and the prosecutor, ASP Sikiru Ibrahim, alleged that between November and December 2025, the defendant fraudulently obtained N7,660,000 from Ms Adeoso, knowing that the offer of procuring foreign work visas was false, and fraudulently converted the money to his own use, thereby defrauding the victim of her hard-earned savings.

According to the prosecutor, the offence was committed at No 48, Taiwo House, Sango area of Ibadan, and contravenes Section 383 and is punishable under Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000, which criminalise stealing and fraudulent obtaining of property. The magistrate, M. Mudashiru, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be his close relative and must possess a voter’s card or driver’s licence, and he adjourned the matter until August 10 for a hearing, giving the prosecution time to prepare its case and the defence to respond to the allegations.

This case is far from isolated, as visa-related fraud has quietly grown into one of the fastest-rising sources of financial loss among middle-income Nigerians desperate to relocate abroad, with the EFCC reporting that it received more than 1,200 complaints regarding fake US visas and job offers in 2025 alone, with victims losing an estimated N4.7 billion to these scams. Between 2020 and 2024, Interpol Nigeria estimates that Nigerians lost at least $60 million to migration scams, though the true figure may be significantly higher, as many victims refrain from reporting due to embarrassment or fear, which enables criminal networks to persist and continue defrauding unsuspecting citizens. Experts have warned that Nigeria risks creating a shadow fraud economy worth as much as N50 billion as fraudsters prey on citizens’ desperation to travel abroad, and between 2022 and September 2023 alone, an estimated 3.68 million Nigerians left the country, with Afrobarometer reporting that 56 per cent of Nigerians have considered emigrating, up from 36 per cent in 2017, creating a fertile ground for scammers.

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This soaring demand has opened the door for scammers who operate without any licensing framework to regulate migration services in the country, and authorities acknowledge the explosion in such crimes, with the EFCC reporting that petitions on travel and visa scams jumped 48 per cent in early 2025 compared to the previous year, marking the sharpest spike on record. Scammers have intensified their tactics, using fake websites, unsolicited social media messages, and urgent calls to pressure applicants into making payments, often promising fast approvals or guaranteed visas in return, while leaving victims stranded after they have paid substantial sums of money that they can ill afford to lose.

Lawal Idris is not alone in facing such allegations, as police and anti-corruption agencies across Nigeria have recently intensified efforts to tackle a growing wave of visa fraud and travel scams. In Lagos State, the police recently arrested a syndicate that allegedly defrauded more than 100 victims of over N500 million by falsely claiming to facilitate Canadian and Australian work visas, and the suspects, aged between 23 and 36, operated under the guise of an educational consultancy, collecting money from applicants through personal bank accounts and unofficial channels while never submitting legitimate applications. Similarly, in Osun State, police arrested a 54-year-old man over alleged visa fraud involving N8,410,000, where the suspect presented himself as a travel agent but allegedly absconded with the money and became unreachable, leaving his victims without recourse. In a related case, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating a travel agent and visa consultant, Chukwujindu Goodness Nchekwube, for allegedly defrauding about 24 persons of approximately N68 million under the pretence of processing work visas, with some victims reportedly receiving forged visas and offer letters after making substantial payments. Additionally, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) recently arraigned a woman in Ekiti over an alleged N159 million visa fraud, demonstrating the scale and geographical spread of the problem across the country.

The Nigeria Police Force has issued a formal warning to Nigerians planning international travel, emphasising that visa application fraud is on the rise and urging strict adherence to official procedures to avoid falling victim, and the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) has been at the forefront of these efforts, investigating and prosecuting offenders. According to police and anti-fraud experts, applicants should be wary of several red flags, including requests for payment into personal bank accounts, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, promises of guaranteed visa approval or “fast-track” processing, pressure to act quickly to secure limited slots, agents operating solely through social media without physical offices, demand for upfront fees without proper documentation, and instructions to submit false information, all of which are common tactics used by fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting victims.

Experts advise Nigerians to take ownership of their travel plans and verify all information directly from official embassy websites or government-approved agents, and immigration strategist Joseph Dangana advises that before engaging anyone, Nigerians should verify through the Nigerian Immigration Service’s official registry, as people have been known to land abroad only to be deported instantly for travelling with forged papers. The Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) has introduced the Nigeria Certified Immigration Agent (NCIA) initiative to professionalise visa facilitation services by certifying and regulating authorised agents, providing a framework for identifying legitimate service providers. Police urge victims of visa fraud to report suspicious activity to law enforcement without delay, noting that many victims refrain from reporting due to embarrassment or fear, which enables criminal networks to persist and continue defrauding other unsuspecting citizens, and they have set up a dedicated Immigration Fraud Section with offices in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, working closely with the Nigerian Immigration Service and foreign embassies to dismantle visa rackets and fake travel document syndicates.