CITIZENS COMPASS—The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ekiti State Command, has arrested and arraigned a suspect, Abigail Timothy, over an alleged ₦159 million visa fraud.
Spokesperson for the Command Tolulope Afolabi, said the suspect was taken into custody and charged following allegations of defrauding one Pastor Adewusi Tibatope Samuel and other victims of a total sum of ₦159,108,364.00.
He disclosed this in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti over the weekend.
He said that after completing preliminary investigations, the matter was formally brought before the court.
According to him, “The case is currently before a competent court of jurisdiction in Ado Ekiti, which gave an order for the detention of the suspect at the Correctional Centre pending the continuation of the trial.”
The spokesperson added that the NSCDC would continue to pursue diligent prosecution in line with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while treating suspects in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and international best practices.
Afolabi said, “The suspect, Abigail Brains Timothy, allegedly deceived Pastor Adewusi by falsely claiming that she had the capacity and connection to procure visas and work permits for 65 persons who the pastor introduced to her as his clients.
“Under this false representation, she induced him to release the aforementioned sum to her over a period of time which was meant to cover the visa fee and work permit.
On the 25th of May, 2025, operatives of the NSCDC, Ekiti State Command, acting on a formal complaint and diligent intelligence gathering, arrested the suspect in Benin City after rigorous manhunt for her, having fled from Lagos and later to Benin, Edo state where she was tracked and arrested.“
He said that upon her arrest, the NSCDC’s State Intelligence and Investigation Department conducted a thorough inquiry.
“Findings confirmed that the suspect acted with intent to defraud and had no genuine means or intention of fulfilling the visa and employment arrangements she promised,” he stated.
Afolabi reiterated the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, protecting critical national assets and infrastructure, and prosecuting all forms of economic sabotage such as illegal mining and pipeline vandalism, in line with its mandate.
He also noted that the NSCDC remained open to resolving disputes through its trained Peace and Conflict Resolution experts, for members of the public who are willing to engage peacefully.
The NSCDC State Commandant, Mr Toma Enya, urged members of the public to be wary of fraudulent visa agents and to promptly report any suspicious activity to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
