The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal Directorate, has arraigned three persons before the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, over alleged forgery, uttering of documents and obtaining money by false pretence in connection with Canadian visa fraud.
This is contained in a statement released on Thursday by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr Dele Oyewale.
The defendants are Emmanuel Serah Motunrayo, Awotunde Olugbenga and Idowu Olugbemi Sunday.
Motunrayo and Olugbenga were arraigned on August 17 and 19, 2026, before Justice Olusola Adetujoye on a 47-count charge involving alleged forgery, uttering of documents and obtaining money by false pretence amounting to N23,404,600.
One of the counts alleged that on or about March 1, 2025, in Ibadan, the two defendants, with intent to defraud, obtained N527,000 from Oluwatobi Adeoluwa Iyanda by falsely representing that they would secure a valid Canadian visa and flight ticket for him.
The prosecution said the representation was false and constituted obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 38, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
Another count alleged that the defendants forged a Canadian visa dated June 20, 2025, with Travel Document Number B011745448, in the name of Iyanda Oluwatobi Adeoluwa, purportedly issued by the Government of Canada.
The alleged offence of forgery was said to be contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendants were also accused of fraudulently uttering another false document, described as a Canadian visa dated July 6, 2025, with Travel Document Number B50125702, in the name of Oyewale Tunji Bello and purportedly issued by the Government of Canada.
The alleged offence of uttering was said to be contrary to Section 468 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Following their pleas, Prosecution Counsel, Mohammed Abideen, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional centre.
Counsel to the defendants, Jimoh Wasiu, informed the court that bail applications had been filed and prayed the court to admit his clients to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charges.
Justice Adetujoye subsequently adjourned the matter to August 26, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly came into contact with their victims, Oluwatobi Adeoluwa Iyanda and Oyewale Tunji Bello, after presenting themselves as travel and immigration agents based in Abuja who could assist them in obtaining Canadian visas and making other travel arrangements.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants subsequently received N12,368,100 from Iyanda and N11,036,500 from Bello, but later reneged on their promises.
In a related development, the Ibadan Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on Monday, August 17, 2026, arraigned another defendant, Idowu Olugbemi Sunday, before Justice Olusola Adetujoye for allegedly defrauding Okanlawon Tunji Ajao of N6,650,000 under the guise of securing Canadian visas for him and his family.
Sunday was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on forgery, uttering of documents and obtaining money by false pretence.
The first count alleged that between June 2025 and January 2026, in Ibadan, the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained N6,650,000 from Ajao by falsely representing that he would secure Canadian visas for him and his family.
The alleged offence was said to be contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Sunday pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Lanre Suleiman, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional centre.
Counsel to the defendant, Tiwalade Shittu, informed the court that a motion had been filed, praying the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.
After listening to both parties, Justice Adetujoye adjourned the matter until August 26, 2026, for hearing of the bail application and ordered that Sunday be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.