The EFCC has arrested two suspects over an alleged N68m visa scam in Enugu, accusing a travel agency boss and an alleged accomplice of defrauding people seeking work visas abroad. The anti-graft agency said the visa scam involved forged documents and offer letters issued to would-be travellers.
How the alleged visa scam worked
According to the commission’s Enugu Zonal Directorate, the suspects allegedly defrauded 24 victims under the guise of facilitating work visas to various foreign countries. The agency said they collected large sums but then issued forged visa documents and offer letters rather than genuine travel approvals.
The first suspect, named as the chief executive of a travel and tour company, allegedly presented herself as a visa consultant able to secure work visas through her firm. The second suspect was listed as an alleged accomplice. The total sum involved was put at about N68.02m.
A specific complaint
The commission detailed one case in which a petitioner engaged the company between September 2024 and December 2025 to process work visas for 20 of his clients. He is said to have transferred about N57.62m into the firm’s accounts on the promise that the visas would be delivered within an agreed timeframe.
Despite receiving the money, the agency alleges, the suspect failed to fulfil the agreement and diverted the funds for personal use. The commission said the matter came to light following a petition, the common route by which such cases reach investigators in Nigeria.
What happens next
The EFCC said the suspects would be charged in court once investigations are concluded. At this stage the allegations remain untested, and under Nigerian law anyone accused is presumed innocent unless and until convicted. Viorah TV is reporting the agency’s account without prejudging the outcome.
Prosecutions of this kind typically proceed after the commission finalises statements, traces the flow of funds and prepares formal charges. The pace can vary, and the courts will ultimately decide whether the evidence supports a conviction. Until then, the claims are allegations only.
A recurring warning
Visa fraud is a persistent problem in Nigeria, where strong demand to study, work and travel abroad creates openings for dishonest operators. Genuine consultants exist, but so do fraudsters who exploit hope and urgency, often demanding large upfront payments for services they cannot deliver.
Officials regularly urge travellers to verify the credentials of agents, deal only with recognised channels and be wary of guarantees that sound too good to be true. The Enugu case is a reminder of how costly such fraud can be for families who pour savings into the promise of a fresh start. Viorah TV will follow the case to its conclusion.
The anti-graft agency has in recent years stepped up action against fake recruitment and migration rackets, which prey on the strong desire among young Nigerians to seek opportunities abroad. Victims often hand over life savings or borrow heavily, only to discover that the documents they received are worthless at embassies and airports. Beyond the financial loss, such schemes can dash long-held hopes of study or work overseas, which is why investigators treat them as a serious and recurring threat.
