Tuesday, March, 24 2026 - 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.
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