IBADAN — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has clamped down on a travel syndicate, arraigning three individuals before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over an alleged multi-million-naira visa scam.
The suspects—Emmanuel Serah Motunrayo, Awotunde Olugbenga, and Idowu Olugbemi Sunday—were docked before Justice Olusola Adetujoye in separate proceedings on charges bordering on forgery, uttering, and obtaining money by false pretenses.
The 47-Count Charges Against Motunrayo and Olugbenga
Motunrayo and Olugbenga face a staggering 47-count charge brought by the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency. The duo allegedly operated as fake travel and immigration consultants based in Abuja, targeting unsuspecting victims under the guise of securing valid Canadian visas and flight tickets.
- The Victims: Investigations revealed that the syndicate defrauded Oluwatobi Adeoluwa Iyanda of N12,368,100 and Oyewale Tunji Bello of N11,036,500, bringing the total sum linked to their joint operation to N23,404,600.
- The Forgery: Court documents show the defendants manufactured counterfeit Canadian travel documents, including a fake visa dated June 20, 2025, bearing travel document number B011745448 for Iyanda, and another fake permit issued in July 2025 for Bello.
When the charges were read, both defendants entered pleas of “not guilty.” Prosecution counsel Mohammed Abideen requested a trial date and sought the remand of the defendants. Meanwhile, defense counsel Jimoh Wasiu informed the court that bail applications had already been filed for his clients.
Idowu Sunday Faces Separate Charges
In a parallel proceeding before the same court, the EFCC arraigned Idowu Olugbemi Sunday on a four-count charge for a separate visa fraud scheme.
- The Offense: Between June 2025 and January 2026, Sunday allegedly duped Okanlawon Tunji Ajao out of N6,650,000 under the false pretense of securing Canadian travel papers for Ajao and his entire family.
- The Plea: Sunday pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, which violate the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006.
Prosecution counsel Lanre Suleiman prayed for a trial date, while defense counsel Tiwalade Shittu moved a motion for his client’s release on liberal terms.
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Court Remand and Next Steps
Justice Adetujoye ordered that all three defendants be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
The matters have been adjourned to August 26, 2026, for the formal hearing and determination of the defendants’ respective bail applications.