EFCC arraigns doctor for N39.1m visa fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, June 19, 2025, arraigned a medical doctor, Dr Nekabari Dambere Nathan, before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, for fraud.

Nathan was arraigned alongside his Global Horizons Academy Limited on a one-count charge, bordering obtaining by false pretence and advance fee fraud to the tune of NN39,157,000,00.

The charge read: “That you, Dr. Nekabari Dambere Nathan and Global Horizons Academy Ltd between 8th April, to 12th December 2023 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud,did obtain the sum of N39,157,000,00 from Justice Toojah lyieagbu, the Managing Director of Riskout Consults, which was meant for processing of visa for his clients for Canada, Ireland and the United State of America, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) andpunishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.”

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He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge, following which the prosecution counsel, A. Abubakar, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional centre.

The defence counsel, Friday Otanjah, informed the court of his application for the bail of the defendant, praying that the defendant be granted bail on medical grounds to enable him stand his trial.

Justice P. I. Ajoku, however, adjourned the matter till June 25 for the hearing of the bail application and remanded the defendant in EFCC’s custody.

The judge further adjourned till November 27 for the commencement of the trial.

The Star