EFCC Arraigns Woman over Alleged ₦31m Canadian Visa, Job Fraud in Port Harcourt
The Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Modupe Oriyomi Ativie before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over alleged visa fraud, advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretences.
Ativie was arraigned before Justice A. T. Muhammed on a five-count charge involving her and Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited.
One of the charges alleged that in July 2024, Ativie and the company obtained ₦8.58 million from Atamuotoru Dikiari Michael through his sister, Rita Chikeru Owhonda, under the pretext of securing visa-sponsored employment for him in Canada.
Another count alleged that between November 21, 2024, and January 23, 2025, they obtained ₦22.482 million from Augustine Olague under a similar promise of visa-sponsored employment in Canada.
The charges were brought under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Ativie pleaded not guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant pending the determination of the case. Defence counsel, J. Kehinde, applied for bail to enable her client to prepare for trial.
Justice Muhammed ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until October 16, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.
The arraignment followed a petition alleging that the defendant collected money from several individuals under the guise of arranging Canadian visas and employment opportunities.
According to the petition, Owhonda introduced the company to the petitioner in June 2024 as an agency that facilitated Canadian visas and employment opportunities. The petitioner alleged that he paid $5,800 into an account linked to the defendant’s business and later transferred an additional ₦8.58 million into another account.
He further alleged that the defendant became unreachable after receiving the payments and that his efforts to recover the money were unsuccessful.
The EFCC said its investigation revealed that the defendant allegedly received a total of ₦31.062 million from the petitioner, alongside $3,600 and €1,815 from other alleged victims.
The case is scheduled to return to court on October 16 for a ruling on the defendant’s bail application.
EFCC Arraigns Woman over Alleged ₦31m Canadian Visa, Job Fraud in Port Harcourt