Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Adejoke Ayomide, over an alleged N42.3m visa scam.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the suspect allegedly defrauded over 90 people by posing as a travel consultant capable of securing visas to Spain, Portugal, and France.
Jimoh said Ayomide, who resides on Adesoye Street, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested following a petition submitted to the command by a law firm, Akindayomi Oluwa Tobi & Associates.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly received N42,326,000 through her OPay account from victims who paid for visa processing to Europe.
He said the suspect became unreachable after receiving the money, prompting the victims to report the matter to the police.
“The suspect presented herself as a travel consultant capable of securing visas to Spain, Portugal, and France.
“Acting on these representations, the victims entrusted her with processing travel documents for more than 93 intending travellers,” Jimoh said.
The police spokesperson said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly received the money under the guise of processing the visas.
He added that Ayomide was in police custody and had made useful statements, while efforts were ongoing to identify possible accomplices and ascertain whether there were more victims.
Jimoh said the suspect would be charged in court after the completion of investigations.
PUNCH Metro reported a similar incident in November when the Ogun State Police Command arrested a woman, Elizabeth Thamson, for allegedly defrauding three people of N8.5m under the pretext of helping them secure Canadian work visas.
Her arrest came shortly after the command warned residents about the rising cases of online fraud, including fake dating sites, travel and visa scams, and other schemes used to swindle unsuspecting victims.