The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman, Modupe Oriyomi Ativie, before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over an alleged visa and employment fraud involving millions of naira.
Ativie was brought before Justice A. T. Muhammed on a five-count charge bordering on visa fraud, advance fee fraud, and obtaining money under false pretences.
The EFCC alleged that the defendant, alongside Eudora and Aegle Management Consulting Limited, collected money from prospective travellers under the guise of securing Canadian visa-sponsored employment opportunities for them.
According to the commission, one of the charges accused Ativie and her company of obtaining N8.58 million from Atamuotoru Dikiari Michael through his sister, Rita Chikeru Owhonda, in July 2024.
The prosecution alleged that the money was collected on the false promise of securing employment in Canada with visa sponsorship, an arrangement the defendant allegedly knew was not genuine.
Another charge accused the defendant and her company of obtaining N22.482 million from Augustine Olague between November 21, 2024, and January 23, 2025, under similar circumstances.
The alleged offences contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Ativie pleaded not guilty to all five counts when the charges were read to her in court.
Following her plea, the prosecution counsel, I. Agwu, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case.
However, defence counsel, J. Kehinde, applied for bail, arguing that the defendant should be released to enable her to prepare for trial.
Justice Muhammed subsequently ordered that Ativie be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter until October 16, 2026, for a ruling on her bail application.
The arraignment followed a petition submitted to the EFCC by Michael Aiamunotorudikari, who alleged that he and other individuals lost money in different currencies after engaging the defendant’s company for Canadian visa and employment arrangements.
According to the petitioner, his sister, Rita Chikeru Owhonda, introduced him to the company in June 2024 after presenting it as an agency that facilitated Canadian visas and employment opportunities for Nigerians seeking to travel abroad.
He alleged that he initially paid $5,800 into an account associated with Eudora and Aegle Travel Management Consultant before transferring an additional N8.58 million into another account linked to the defendant.
The petitioner further claimed that Ativie became unreachable after receiving the payments and that repeated efforts to recover his money were unsuccessful.
EFCC investigations reportedly revealed that the defendant received a total of N31.062 million from the petitioner, alongside $3,600 and €1,815 from other alleged victims.
The case is expected to return to court on October 16, 2026, when the judge will rule on the defendant’s bail application.
