EFCC Arraigns Man Over Alleged N23.5m Visa Scam in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, arraigned one Ewulum Chimeze Felix on an 11-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, stealing, possession of fraudulent documents, and forgery to the tune of N23,500,280 (Twenty-Three Million, Five Hundred Naira, Two Hundred and Eighty Kobo).

Felix was arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to the EFCC, Felix allegedly defrauded the complainant under the pretext of securing a United Kingdom visa, work permit, and a certificate of sponsorship. He purportedly failed to deliver on the promise after collecting the funds.

One of the charges reads:
“That you, EWULUM CHIMEZE FELIX (trading under the name and style of Slenzy Ventures), sometime in 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N18,038,000.00 (Eighteen Million, Thirty-Eight Thousand Naira) from Nnochiri Chiedozie Boniface by falsely representing that the money was for procuring a United Kingdom visa and work permit, a representation you knew to be false.”

Another count states:
“That you, Ewulum Chimeze Felix, on or about the 10th of March, 2025, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, had in your possession several fraudulent documents, one of which is a forged Florida Driver’s License bearing the name ‘Vojtisek Adriena’, which you presented to unsuspecting victims, a representation you knew to be false.”

Felix pleaded not guilty to all charges when read to him in court.

In response, the prosecution counsel, M. B. Isha, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant at a correctional facility pending commencement of trial.

Defence counsel, Michael O. Nwigbo, informed the court of a pending bail application and appealed for an expedited hearing.

Justice Dada subsequently adjourned the matter to June 17, 2025, for the commencement of trial and ordered the custodial remand of the defendant pending the hearing.