The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Dr. Nekabari Dambere Nathan, a Port Harcourt-based medical doctor, before the Federal High Court in Rivers State over an alleged visa fraud totaling N39.1 million.
Dr. Nathan, alongside his company, Global Horizons Academy Ltd, was brought before Justice P. I. Ajoku on Thursday, facing a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and advance fee fraud. According to the EFCC, the case stems from a petition filed in February 2023, alleging that Dr. Nathan posed as a professional trainer and travel agent, promising to secure visas and job placements in Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom for Nigerian applicants.
The petitioner, identified as Justice Toojah Iyieagbu, Managing Director of Riskout Consults, claimed that Dr. Nathan approached his company and convinced several students to pay for visa processing and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam enrollment. The total sum collected reportedly reached N39,157,000.
However, the EFCC alleges that Dr. Nathan failed to deliver on his promises, neither securing the visas nor the job placements, and subsequently became unreachable, frustrating efforts by the victims to recover their money.
In court, Dr. Nathan pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution, represented by A. Abubakar, requested that the defendant be remanded and for a trial date to be set. The defence counsel, Friday Otanjah, applied for bail on medical grounds.
Justice Ajoku ordered that Dr. Nathan be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the hearing of the bail application to June 25, 2025. The trial is scheduled to begin on November 27, 2025.
The EFCC continues to warn the public to be cautious of individuals and organizations making promises of overseas job placements and visa procurement, urging prospective applicants to verify the legitimacy of such offers.
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