The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force declared that some Visa Racketeers, who specialized in forging Visa for prospective travelers, have been arrested.

According to a press release received by CEOAFRICA.com from DSP Ngozi Isintume-Agu, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, the suspects were arrested after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police received a petition from the British Deputy High Commission that one Jude Oseiwe Esebanmhen with Nigerian Passport No. A04701778 applied for a 6 month visit visa on 6^th June, 2013 but the visa application was rejected.

“The petition reads further that the above-mentioned person later applied for a Spanish visa with a fake UK Entry Clearance Visa on his passport in an attempt to use deception to obtain the visa, but the visa was checked by a trained forgery officer and was discovered to be forged.

“This petition spurred the force into action, and Jude Oseiwe Esebanmhen, 26, a graduate of Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, who hails from Esan North-East Local Government Area was arrested.” She said.

Furthermore, DSP Ngozi Agu told CEOAFRICA that the suspect confessed to the crime.

“While confessing to the crime after his arrest, the suspect admitted that he met a travelling agent who promised to assist him to procure a Spanish visa.  The Agent introduced him to one Mr. Olawole who unknown to him forged the document and stamp on the passport.  He also stated that the passport was submitted to the Spanish Embassy and he was later called by the Embassy for collection of his visa and subsequently was arrested.” She added.

Furthermore, DSP Ngozi Agu said that the person who procured those fake documents for Jude has been arrested and he has confessed to the crime.

“The other suspect, Charles Abayomi Sanusi, 40, Concrete Fabricator from Osun State, confessed that he procured the fake documents for the principal suspects. 

According to him, he is not an appointed agent but assist prospective travelers to procure visa to London, Spain, France and other documents like hotel reservation, insurance certificate, ticket, invitation letters, employment documents and statement of account.

“He also admitted that  they fake documents which include letter of appointment, statement of account, fake visa, fake arrival and departure stamps of Benin Republic, Cote d’Voire, Togo, Ghana and U.K.  He further stated that all the fake documents were procured through the assistance of one Alhaji Oyekanmi who normally meets with him at CMS. 

“He also stated that he uses his friend’s office at Shogunle for visa consultancy and has procured for 3 other applicants and has never worked in an Embassy in his life.  He admitted that he collected the sum of N150,000 (One hundred and fifty thousand naira)for his service.

“He further stated that he has travelled to U.K. on several occasions but was convicted for 5months for Credit Card fraud and was later deported to Lagos, Nigeria in 2008.

“The 2^nd suspect admitted that he master minded the whole crime through one Alhaji Oyekanmi who is still at large.” The PPRO said.

Meanwhile, DSP Ngozi Agu concluded that effort is being intensified to arrest the fleeing suspect as investigation into the case continues.