Alleged Visa Scam: EFCC Charges Woman, Firm Over N16.7m Fraud

The EFCC has brought a woman and her consulting company before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations that they diverted N16.7 million paid by two individuals for visa processing.

The defendants, Joanah Eyere Eyong and Joanah Eyere Consulting Limited, appeared before Justice Daniel Osiagor at the court in Ikoyi on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the anti-graft agency filed a four-count charge against them, accusing them of fraudulently converting money entrusted to them by Ngozi Amanda Okwuchukwu and Udogwu Clement Ikechukwu for visa application processing.

The charge alleged that Eyong and her company converted N5.7 million belonging to Okwuchukwu between November 7 and 8, 2023.
They were also accused of converting another N11,001,800 belonging to Ikechukwu between June 14 and July 29, 2024.

The EFCC said the alleged acts amounted to stealing under Section 383(1) of the Criminal Code Act and are punishable under Section 390 of the same legislation.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Prosecution counsel, F.B. Orilade, subsequently asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility and schedule the trial.
In his ruling, Justice Osiagor granted the defendant bail in the sum of N12 million, with one surety required to provide an equivalent sum.

The judge directed that the surety must be a Grade Level 15 civil servant with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction. The property must also be verified by the court registrar.
The defendant was ordered to remain in a correctional facility until the bail conditions are fulfilled.

The court adjourned the matter until March 17, 2027, for the commencement of trial.