EFCC captures lady, others for ₦2.5m Canadian visa fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Jessica Roselyn Edoleyi, Charles Endurance and Ayase Destiny before Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Benin, Edo State.

The trio were docked for offences bordering on obtaining by false pretense, intent to defraud and impersonation.

Edoleyi allegedly obtained N2,550,000 from Airiohuodion Efosa on the pretext of securing a Canadian visa for him.

Endurance and Destiny allegedly impersonated the identities of Roland Scout, Sina Joorachi and George Lawrence to defraud foreign nationals.

The EFCC said Edoleyi committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under same section.

Ayase claimed to an American medical doctor and sent his picture to unsuspecting ladies abroad through the internet to obtain money dubiously

The offence was contrary to section 22 (2)(b)(ii) of the Cybercrime (prohibition, prevention etc) Act 2015 and punishable under section 22(2)(b)(in) of the same Act.

Endurance was charged for the same offence. All defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, K. U. Udus and K. Y. Bello prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the defendants in prison pending trial.

In his ruling, Justice Shuaibu adjourned the matter until October 18, 2021 for hearing of the bail application.

The trio will remain at a facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

The EFCC was established in 2003, partially in response to pressure from the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF), which named Nigeria as one of 23 countries non-cooperative in the international community’s efforts to fight money laundering.