Two men from Edo State have accused a suspected fraudster of ruining their plans to relocate abroad after allegedly collecting ₦30 million from them for travel documents and work permits.
Pastor Ojo Perfect and Collins Agbonbaye said their Canada dream collapsed after they were arrested by immigration authorities in Cameroon and informed that the visas and other travel documents arranged for them were forged.
They alleged that the suspect, identified as Nosa Ighodaro, first promised to help them travel to the United Kingdom before changing the destination to New Zealand and eventually Canada.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the victims said Ighodaro had remained evasive despite being arrested in Abuja following a court order.
They also expressed frustration that the suspect had yet to be arraigned by the police.
According to Pastor Perfect, the suspect deceived them into believing that he was processing genuine travel documents until they arrived in Cameroon.
“He scammed us; he deceived us into believing that he was doing genuine papers for us until we got to Cameroon, when the Immigration there arrested us and said that we were in possession of fake visas which were forged.
“We were arrested, and we spent all our money to free ourselves before money was sent to us from Nigeria, with which we came back.”
Perfect said the ordeal had left him financially devastated, claiming that he sold his car, land and other properties after Ighodaro told him he would no longer need them.
“We sold all our properties. I sold my car and land because he told me I didn’t need them anymore. I am left with nothing.
“We are traumatised, and we are in a very bad situation now. He is trying to run from the law. We are appealing to the police authorities to bring him to justice because he claims he is connected and we cannot do anything to him.”
Checks showed that Ighodaro was arrested in Abuja while allegedly attempting to withdraw money from one of his bank accounts. However, he reportedly fell ill suddenly and was admitted to a hospital, making it impossible for him to be taken to Benin.
The Divisional Police Officer of Uromi Division, Gabriel Ogah, who is investigating the case, said he had sent officers to Abuja to bring Ighodaro to Edo State.
However, the doctor treating the suspect reportedly declined to release him, citing medical exigencies.
The DPO of Gwarampa Police Division, Naseer Gusau, also confirmed that Ighodaro had been arrested by his officers before he suddenly fell ill and was taken to hospital.
