Fake travel agent dupes UAE visa seekers of N2m

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Lagos State Police Command, have arrested a 28-year-old man, who claimed he was a travel agent and defrauded prospective travellers of N2 million.
The suspect identified as Emu-Larry Chidebere, who hails from Ika North Local Government Area of Delta State, according to the squad, allegedly collected N400,000 for the procurement of the United Arab Emirate’s visa from prospective travellers.
The bubble burst after one of the victims, Abraham Jude, reported him to the squad, following his inability to get the UAE visa from the suspect, months after payment of N400,000.
Explaining how he came in contact with the suspect, a devastated Abraham said: “When I was laid off from my work place in Abuja, I had the intention of moving out of the country to start a new life.
“I met one Mr. Samuel Obed, who told me that his nephew was working with a company in the United Arab Emirates and that he could help me secure that country’s visa.
“We started communicating via telephone and he assured me that he could secure Dubai visa for me at a reasonable price. He requested for N400,000, which I told him I could not afford at that time.
“Later, he called me again to say that his office in Dubai was recruiting and that he had already submitted my name for employment.
“He reeled out the benefits attached to the employment and I began to source for the money. At the end of the day I got the N400,000 and sent to him in Dubai through his Access Bank account.
“Two days after payment, he stopped picking my calls. Even when he does, he would tell me that I shouldn’t bother myself any more that my money has gone down the drain. This prompted me to report the case to the RRS.”

Arrested
Vanguard gathered that it took the RRS four months before the suspect could be tracked down, as he reportedly travelled to Dubai and also changed his telephone number on arriving Nigeria.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to have collected the money from the victim, but said that he spent the money when efforts to secure the visa for him failed.
He said: “I can’t deny the fact that I collected N400,000 from him. I actually tried to secure the visa for him but all my efforts were in vain. And I started spending the money gradually till I spent it all.”
Four other victims who alleged to have paid Chidebere N400,000 each for UAE visa also visited RRS office in Alausa, when they got wind of his arrest.
Confirming the arrest, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Dolapo Badmus, said that the suspect had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Yaba, for further investigation.