- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nabbed a school owner, Imaobong Okpong, over alleged visa and scholarship fraud in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state’ capital.
Okpong who owns Michael Udonquak Schools in Mbierebe area of the state was arrested by operatives of the EFCC’s Uyo Zonal Directorate.
She was accused of involvement in a series of visa fraud schemes and fake offers of foreign scholarships for nonexistent studies abroad.
As contained in a statement issued by the EFCC on Friday, the suspected fraudster was arrested following claims of a petitioner, Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Nse Bassey, a clinician.
According to the statement, Bassey claimed that the suspect defrauded her of the sum of N3 million under the guise of securing a University admission for her and also processing Canadian visas for her and her husband.
She narrated that the suspect contacted her sometime in February 2024 with a supposed opportunity to secure a scholarship and study visa abroad.
The purported victim claimed not to have made any payment until the suspect signed an indemnity agreement, which she notarized before making the N3 million electronic transfer into the suspect’s First Bank account
However, after receiving the payment, Okpong allegedly became unreachable and started rejecting calls on her mobile lines as she completely failed to deliver on her promise and terms of the signed agreement.
In the petition which led to the school owner’s arrest, Bassey claimed that the suspect had defrauded many victims, especially one of her friends.
“I met a friend who got stranded in China after realizing that there was no scholarship when she got there.
“Some of her victims had travelled abroad with fake documents that left many of them stranded overseas while some others faced deportation with huge financial losses” Bassey said.
The EFCC vowed to charge the suspect to court as soon as investigations are concluded.