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The Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned three suspects before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over alleged visa fraud involving more than N30 million. Motunrayo Emmanuel and Awotunde Olugbenga were jointly charged with 47 counts of forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining money by false pretence involving N23.4m, while Idowu Olugbemi Sunday was separately arraigned over an alleged N6.65m fraud.
The EFCC alleged that Emmanuel and Olugbenga collected money from victims by falsely promising to secure Canadian visas and flight tickets. Investigators also accused them of producing and presenting fake Canadian visa documents, including documents purportedly issued by the Canadian government. Sunday was similarly accused of collecting N6.65m from a man while claiming he could secure Canadian visas for him and his family.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution requested that they be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial, while their lawyers informed the court that bail applications had been filed. The allegations will be determined through the ongoing court proceedings.
