Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, arraigned three suspects before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan over alleged visa fraud involving millions of naira. Emmanuel Serah Motunrayo and Awotunde Olugbenga were arraigned on a forty-seven-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering of documents, and obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of N23,404,600. In a separate proceeding on Monday, August 17, 2026, Idowu Olugbemi Sunday was also arraigned before the same judge on a four-count charge for allegedly defrauding his victim of N6,650,000 under the guise of securing a Canadian visa. The three defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges, and Justice Adetujoye remanded them in Agodi Correctional Centre, adjourning the matters to August 26, 2026, for hearing of their bail applications.
According to the charge sheet, Motunrayo and Olugbenga approached their victims, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa Iyanda and Oyewale Tunji Bello, under the pretext that they were travel and immigration agents based in Abuja capable of facilitating Canadian visas and making other travelling arrangements abroad. Count two of the charges reads that on or about March 1, 2025, at Ibadan, the defendants obtained the sum of N527,000 from Iyanda by falsely representing that they would secure a valid Canadian visa and flight ticket, a pretense they knew to be false, thereby committing an offence of obtaining money by false pretense contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000. Count forty-two alleges that sometime in 2025, the defendants made a false document, a Canadian Visa dated June 20, 2025, with Travel Document Number B011745448, in the name of Iyanda Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, purportedly issued by the Government of Canada, thereby committing the offence of forgery contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Another count detailed that the defendants fraudulently uttered a false document, a Canadian Visa dated July 6, 2025, with Travel Document Number B50125702 in the name of Oyewale Tunji Bello, purported to have been issued by the Government of Canada, with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine, thereby committing the offence of uttering contrary to Section 468 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The defendants allegedly received N12,368,100 from Iyanda and N11,036,500 from Bello, totalling N23,404,600, but subsequently reneged on their promises, leaving the victims with forged documents and empty bank accounts. The scale of the alleged fraud, spanning multiple victims and involving sophisticated forgery of international travel documents, highlights the growing prevalence of visa fraud syndicates exploiting Nigerians desperate to travel abroad for better opportunities.
In the second case, Idowu Olugbemi Sunday was arraigned on Monday, August 17, 2026, for defrauding Okanlawon Tunji Ajao of N6,650,000 under the guise of securing a Canadian visa for him and his family. Count one of the charge reads that between June 2025 and January 2026 at Ibadan, Sunday obtained the total sum of N6,650,000 from Ajao by falsely representing that he would secure a Canadian visa for him and his family, a pretense he knew to be false, thereby committing an offence of obtaining money by false pretense contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, and his counsel, Tiwalade Shittu, informed the court of a motion filed praying the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms. Justice Adetujoye adjourned the matter to August 26, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and remanded Sunday in Agodi Correctional Centre.
These cases underscore the alarming scale of visa fraud in Nigeria, where desperate citizens seeking to escape economic hardship and pursue opportunities abroad are increasingly falling victim to sophisticated syndicates. The EFCC's Ibadan Zonal Directorate has been at the forefront of combating this menace, which has become a lucrative enterprise for fraudsters who prey on the dreams of Nigerians seeking greener pastures in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other Western countries. The commission has consistently warned the public to verify the credentials of travel agents and immigration consultants before parting with their money, urging citizens to conduct due diligence through official channels. Despite these warnings, the demand for international travel and the allure of visa facilitation services continue to create fertile ground for fraudsters to exploit unsuspecting victims.
The defendants' journey to the correctional centre highlights the devastating consequences of visa fraud on victims, many of whom invest their life savings in pursuit of a better life abroad. The cases also illustrate the sophistication of these fraud syndicates, which often use forged documents, fake visas, and elaborate schemes to convince victims of their legitimacy. The EFCC's prosecution of these cases sends a strong signal that visa fraud will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will face the full weight of the law. However, the commission must also intensify its public enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerians on how to identify and avoid visa fraud schemes. The August 26 hearing will determine whether the defendants will be granted bail or remain in custody pending trial, but for the victims, the damage has already been done, and the recovery of their funds may take years, if ever.
The Canadian visa fraud cases in Ibadan are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of immigration fraud that has plagued Nigeria for years. The demand for travel documents, particularly to Canada, has skyrocketed in recent years as more Nigerians seek to relocate due to economic insecurity, insecurity, and the desire for better educational and employment opportunities. Fraudsters have capitalized on this demand, setting up fake travel agencies, forging visas, and promising guaranteed approvals to desperate victims. The EFCC's efforts to combat these syndicates have resulted in numerous arrests and prosecutions, but the challenge remains enormous, given the vast sums of money involved and the willingness of victims to take risks. The cases of Motunrayo, Olugbenga, and Sunday serve as a cautionary tale for Nigerians dreaming of travelling abroad, and the EFCC's actions demonstrate that justice, albeit slow, is being served.
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