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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Directorate, has commenced an investigation into a suspected serial fraudster, Osogu Christian Ogbonna, over an alleged visa scam involving N19.9 million.
In a statement released by the EFCC, the suspect is being investigated for allegedly collecting money from victims under the pretext of helping them process travel documents to go abroad.
According to the Commission, three petitioners, Osmond Chukwuebuka Ugwu, Ugwu Chidubem, and Amadiani Gilbert Chinedu, accused Ogbonna of defrauding them through different schemes.
Ugwu, in his petition, said he met the suspect in 2018 while planning to travel overseas. He alleged that Ogbonna presented himself as a visa agent and convinced him with an offer of a Red Cross-sponsored visa to the United States of America for N1.8 million, excluding the flight ticket.
The petitioner said he initially paid N4 million for the arrangement, after which he made additional payments, bringing the total amount he gave the suspect to N11.8 million.
“Ugwu claimed that he met the suspect in 2018 when he was planning to travel abroad. The suspect reportedly presented himself as a visa agent and lured him with an offer of a Red Cross-sponsored visa to the United States of America at the cost of N1.8 million, excluding the flight ticket. Ugwu allegedly paid N4 million for the arrangement. Other payments followed, and the petitioner said he paid a total sum of N11.8 million,” the statement said.
Chidubem, the second petitioner, alleged that the suspect worked with a friend to defraud him of N5.9 million after promising to provide genuine documents that would help him advance his football career abroad.
“Another petitioner, Chidubem, claimed that the suspect conspired with a friend to defraud him of the sum of N5.9 million after assuring him that he would procure genuine documents to enable him further pursue his football career abroad,” the statement added.
In a separate petition, Chinedu claimed that Ogbonna collected N2.2 million from him with the promise of securing a work permit and visa to enable him relocate to Australia.
“Chinedu, in his own petition, alleged that the suspect defrauded him of the sum of N2.2 million to procure a work permit and the accompanying visa to enable him migrate to Australia,” the statement added.
Initial findings by the EFCC showed that the suspect, a 44-year-old electrical engineer, had been posing as a visa processing agent, offering to assist people seeking to travel abroad.
Investigations further revealed that he is not a licensed travel agent.
The commission said the suspect would be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
EFCC probes suspected serial fraudster over alleged N19.9m visa scam in Enugu
