By Duchess Ifeoluwa
Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old woman, Adejoke Ayomide, over her alleged involvement in a visa fraud estimated at ₦42.326 million, allegedly obtained from more than 90 prospective travellers under the pretext of securing European visas.
The Command disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Abayomi Jimoh.
According to the police, the suspect, a resident of Adesoye Street, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was arrested following a petition dated July 17, 2026, submitted by the law firm of Barrister Akindayomi Oluwa Tobi & Associates on behalf of the victims.
The petition alleged that the suspect fraudulently collected money from the complainant and several other victims between October 2024 and April 5, 2026, with the promise of processing travel visas to Spain, Portugal and France.
Police investigations revealed that the suspect allegedly presented herself as a travel consultant capable of facilitating visas to the European countries and subsequently received payments for the processing of travel documents for over 93 intending travellers.
According to the Command, the suspect allegedly received a cumulative sum of ₦42,326,000 through her Opay account for the purported visa processing.
The police said the suspect allegedly became unreachable after receiving the funds, prompting the victims to report the matter.
Detectives of the Ondo State Police Command thereafter launched an intelligence-driven investigation, deploying forensic and other investigative techniques to trace her whereabouts.
The statement said the operation culminated in the arrest of the suspect on August 5, 2026, during a coordinated operation by detectives of the Command.
“The suspect is currently in police custody, where she has made useful confessional statements. Efforts are ongoing to unravel the full scope of the alleged fraudulent scheme, identify possible accomplices and establish whether there are additional victims. Upon the conclusion of investigations, the suspect will be charged to court accordingly,” the statement read.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, CP Felix Ohagwu, commended the professionalism and resilience of the investigating officers, describing the arrest as another breakthrough in the Command’s sustained campaign against financial crimes.
He reiterated the Command’s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of fraud and other criminal offences are brought to justice.
The police also advised members of the public to exercise caution when engaging travel consultants and agencies for visa processing and overseas travel arrangements.
Prospective travellers were urged to verify the authenticity and credentials of travel agents before making payments and to promptly report suspicious activities to the nearest police station.
