A man, Ewulum Chimeze Felix, has been arraigned before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding an unsuspecting visa applicant of over ₦23.5 million under false pretence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Felix before Justice Mojisola Dada on Tuesday, where he was slammed with an 11-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, forgery, and possession of fraudulent documents.
According to the EFCC, the accused posed as a travel consultant operating under the business name “Slenzy Ventures.” He allegedly promised one Nnochiri Chiedozie Boniface assistance in securing a United Kingdom visa, work permit, and certificate of sponsorship—all of which turned out to be a ruse.
Prosecuting counsel, M. B. Isha, told the court that between early 2024 and the time of arrest, Felix fraudulently obtained a total sum of ₦23,500,280 from Boniface.
This included ₦18 million he claimed was needed for visa processing and associated documentation.
In a further twist, the EFCC said it uncovered several fraudulent documents in Felix’s possession, including a forged Florida driving license bearing the name “Vojtisek Adriena”—a tool allegedly used to mislead and defraud other victims as well.
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Felix, however, pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read to him in court.
While the EFCC urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant, defence counsel, Michael O. Nwigbo, asked the court to consider a pending bail application, requesting a short adjournment for it to be heard.
Justice Dada granted the request, adjourning the case to June 17, 2025, for trial. In the meantime, she ordered that Felix be remanded in a correctional facility.
The case adds to the growing number of visa-related fraud cases in the country, where desperate attempts to secure foreign opportunities have made many Nigerians vulnerable to con artists.