Nigeria Court Remands Woman in EFCC Custody Over N31m Visa Fraud

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Modupe Oriyomi Ativie before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over an alleged scheme that promised visa-sponsored jobs in Canada. She faces five counts alongside Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited, with sums of N31,062,000, $3,600 and €1,815 said to be involved.

Key facts

• Charges: five counts of visa fraud, advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretences
• Alleged pretext: visa-sponsored employment in Canada
• Amounts cited: N31,062,000, $3,600 and €1,815
• Defendant pleaded not guilty before Justice A.T. Muhammed
• Remanded in EFCC custody; bail ruling scheduled for 16 October 2026

What are the allegations?

The EFCC's Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate presented the case, which also names Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited. One count alleges that in July 2024 Ativie and the company obtained N8,580,000 from Atamuotoru Dikiari Michael, transferred through his sister Rita Chikeru Owhonda, on the pretext of securing a visa-sponsored job in Canada — a pretext the prosecution says Ativie knew to be false.

Another count alleges that between 21 November 2024 and 23 January 2025 Augustine Olague was defrauded of N22,482,000 under the same promise of Canadian employment. The EFCC investigation began after a petition from Michael Aiamunotorudikari, who said he was introduced to the company in June 2024 as an agency handling Canadian visas and employment. He told investigators he first paid $5,800 into the company's account and later transferred N8.58 million into another account linked to Ativie, after which she allegedly became incommunicado.

What happened in court?

Ativie entered a plea of not guilty to all five charges. Prosecution counsel I. Agwu asked the court to set a trial date and to remand her at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre until the trial begins, while defence counsel J. Kehinde applied for bail so she could prepare her defence.

Justice A.T. Muhammed ordered that Ativie be remanded in EFCC custody. The charges are brought under Section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, with one count also citing Section 1(3) of the same Act.

What this means for travellers

The case concerns alleged advance fee fraud built on promises of visa-sponsored work in Canada, according to the charges. Anyone paying for overseas employment or immigration help should confirm who they are dealing with and keep records of every payment, as the sums in this case were transferred across several accounts and currencies.

What happens next

The court adjourned the matter to 16 October 2026, when a ruling on Ativie's bail application is expected. No trial date has been announced in the material reviewed.