Visa Fraud Ring Busted! NSCDC Drags Woman to Court Over Massive ₦159m Rip-Off

A woman identified as Abigail Brains Timothy has been arraigned before a competent court in Ado Ekiti for allegedly orchestrating a ₦159 million visa fraud scheme. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State Command, confirmed the development, revealing that Timothy was apprehended following a complaint lodged by Pastor Adewusi Tibatope Samuel, who claimed to have been defrauded alongside 64 others under the guise of obtaining visas and work permits.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, the suspect reportedly promised the pastor that she had the influence and resources to secure valid travel documents for his clients. Trusting her claims, he transferred over ₦159 million to her in tranches, intended to cover visa processing and employment arrangements.

The NSCDC stated that after receiving the formal complaint, its operatives embarked on a rigorous manhunt that led to her arrest in Benin City, Edo State. She had reportedly fled Lagos before being tracked and captured. Investigations carried out by the command’s State Intelligence and Investigation Department concluded that Timothy had no legitimate means or intentions to deliver on her promises and had acted deliberately to defraud her victims.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, the suspect was subsequently arraigned, and the court ordered her remand at the Correctional Centre pending the continuation of trial. The NSCDC emphasized that the case will be prosecuted diligently in line with Nigeria’s legal standards and constitutional safeguards.

In a public advisory, the NSCDC State Commandant, Mr. Toma Enya, cautioned citizens to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to fraudulent travel agents. He urged members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies and warned against taking the law into their own hands.

ACCORDING TO IREPORTER ONLINE, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting lives and property, combating economic crimes, and resolving conflicts through peaceful means where possible. The case has now drawn wider attention as the NSCDC pushes forward with its broader mandate to prosecute economic saboteurs across Nigeria.