By Ade Oyeyemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a woman, Modupe Oriyomi Ativie, before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over an alleged visa fraud involving N31.06m, $3,600 and €1,815.
Ativie was brought before Justice A.T. Muhammed by the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate on a five-count charge bordering on alleged visa fraud, advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.
The commission disclosed this in a statement published on its official X account on Tuesday.
According to the charges, Ativie and a company, Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited, allegedly obtained N8.58m from Atamuotoru Dikiari Michael through his sister, Rita Chikeru Owhonda, in July 2024.
The prosecution alleged that the money was collected under the pretence of securing Canadian visa-sponsored employment for Michael, a representation the defendants allegedly knew to be false.
Another count accused Ativie and the company of obtaining N22.48m from Augustine Olague between November 21, 2024, and January 23, 2025, under a similar promise of arranging employment in Canada.
The alleged offences contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Ativie pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case.
However, defence counsel, J. Kehinde, applied for bail, arguing that the defendant should be allowed to prepare for her trial while on bail.
Justice Muhammed subsequently ordered that Ativie be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until October 16, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.
The EFCC said the case followed a petition by Michael Aiamunotorudikari, who alleged that he and other individuals lost money in different currencies in connection with the purported visa and employment arrangements.
According to the commission, the petitioner said his sister introduced him to the defendant’s company in June 2024 after it was presented as an agency facilitating Canadian visas and employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The petitioner allegedly paid $5,800 into an account linked to the company before transferring an additional N8.58m into another account associated with the defendant.
He reportedly told investigators that Ativie became unreachable after receiving the payments and that his attempts to recover the money were unsuccessful.
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The EFCC said its investigation showed that the defendant allegedly received a total of N31.062m from the petitioner and other victims, alongside $3,600 and €1,815.
The allegations have yet to be determined by the court.
