EFCC arraigns travel agent over N31m Canadian visa fraud in Port Harcourt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a female suspect, Modupe Oriyomi Ativie, before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt over an alleged multi-million naira visa scam.

She is accused of defrauding victims of N31.06 million, alongside $3,600 and €1,815, under the false pretence of securing Canadian visa-sponsored employment. Ativie and her firm, Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited, were docked before Justice A.T. Muhammed on a five-count charge on advance fee fraud.

“The alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under the same law,” the EFCC.

Court revealed that the defendant allegedly collected huge sums from multiple victims, including N22.4 million from a single applicant, before ending all communication.

During the proceedings, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges raised against her by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC. After her plea, the prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the suspect in a correctional facility, while the defence counsel, J. Kehinde, moved an application for bail.

Justice Muhammed, ruling on the submissions, ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the determination of her bail application. The judge subsequently adjourned the case to October 16, 2026, for ruling, as investigations into the illicit transactions remain ongoing.