Anti-graft Agency Nabs School Proprietress For Alleged Visa, Scholarship Scam

Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Imaobong Cyril Okpong, an alleged serial fraudster accused of involvement in a series of scholarship and international travel scams.

The suspect, who operated a school she allegedly used as a cover to defraud unsuspecting victims, also engaged in visa fraud schemes and fake offers of foreign scholarships for non-existent studies abroad, according to the anti-graft agency.

Disclosing this to journalists in Uyo at the weekend, the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Ojewale, explained that Okpong was arrested following a petition by one Dr Blessing Nse Bassey, a clinician.

Dr Bassey alleged in her petition to the EFCC that the suspect defrauded her of the sum of N3,000,000 under the guise of securing a university admission for her and processing Canadian visas for her and her husband.

The petition stated that the suspect contacted her victim sometime in February 2024 with a supposed opportunity to secure a scholarship and study visa abroad.

The petitioner, the agency added, did not make any payment until the suspect signed an indemnity agreement, which she notarised before transferring the N3,000,000 electronically into the suspect’s First Bank account.

However, after receiving the payment, Okpong allegedly became unreachable and began rejecting calls on her mobile lines. She completely failed to deliver on her promises and the terms of the signed agreement.

The suspect, according to the commission’s interrogation, had defrauded many victims, including one of her friends, who was made to travel to China but became stranded.

“One of her victims got stranded in China. When she got there, she realised that there was no scholarship. Some of her victims travelled abroad with fake documents that left many of them stranded overseas, while others faced deportation and huge financial losses,” the agency stated.