In Port Harcourt, a medical doctor is charged by the EFCC with alleged N39.1 million visa fraud.
Dr. Nekabari Dambere Nathan, a physician from Port Harcourt, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate on Thursday before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on charges of visa fraud totaling N39,157,000.00.
The EFCC said in a statement Thursday that the doctor was arraigned before Justice P. I. Ajoku.The EFCC statement said that Nathan and his company, Global Horizons Academy Ltd., were charged with one count of receiving N39,157,000.00 (thirty-nine million, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand naira) by false pretense and advance fee fraud.
EFCC Complaints
In February 2023, Nathan was taken into custody on the basis of a petitioner’s claims. According to the petitioner, the defendant falsely represented himself as a travel agency and professional care-giving trainer who could help Nigerian applicants obtain visas and employment in Canada, Ireland, and the UK.
The petitioner further “alleged that the defendant approached his company, Riskout Consults, and persuaded his students that he can help them enroll in the International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, exam and facilitate their trip to any country of their choice.”
According to the petitioner, students sent the defendant N39,157,000.00 (thirty-nine million, one hundred and fifty-seven thousand naira).
According to the petition, the defendant failed to obtain the victims’ visas or employment placements, become incommunicado, and thwarted their attempts to get their money back from him.
The charge states: “That you, Dr. Nekabari Dambere Nathan, and Global Horizons Academy Ltd., within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, obtained N39,157,000.00 (N39,157,000.00) with intent to defraud between April 8, 2023, and December 12, 2023 in Port Harcourt,
The managing director of Riskout Consults, which was established to process visas for his clients to Canada, Ireland, and the United States of America, Justice Toojah Lyieagbu, committed an offense against Section 1(1)(a) and was punished under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act by making a false pretense.
What happened in court
The defendant entered a plea of “not guilty” to the accusation during the court hearing.
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A. Abubakar, the prosecution’s attorney, asked the court to set a trial date and send the defendant to a detention facility.
- The defence counsel, Friday Otanjah, informed the court of his application for bail of the defendant.
- He prayed that the defendant be granted bail on medical grounds to enable him to stand his trial.
- Justice Ajoku adjourned the matter till June 25, 2025, for the bail application hearing and remanded the defendant in EFCC’s custody.
- The judge further adjourned till November 27, 2025, for commencement of the trial.
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