The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old woman, Adejoke Ayomide, over her alleged involvement in a visa fraud estimated at ₦42.3 million, reportedly obtained from more than 90 prospective travellers under the pretext of securing European visas.
The suspect, who resides on Adesoye Street, Abeokuta, Ogun State, was apprehended following an investigation launched after a petition filed on July 17, 2026, by the law firm of Akindayomi Oluwa Tobi & Associates on behalf of the victims.
According to the police, the suspect allegedly posed as a travel consultant and promised to facilitate visas to Spain, Portugal and France. Based on the representations, the victims reportedly paid a total of ₦42,326,000 into her Opay account for visa processing and other travel arrangements for over 93 intending travellers.
The command said preliminary findings revealed that after receiving the funds between October 2024 and April 5, 2026, the suspect allegedly failed to process the visas and became unreachable, prompting the victims to seek police intervention.
Spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said detectives immediately launched an intelligence driven investigation, employing forensic and other investigative techniques to trace the suspect.
He disclosed that the operation culminated in the arrest of the suspect on August 5, 2026, during a coordinated operation by detectives of the command.
Jimoh said the suspect is currently in police custody and has made useful statements to investigators.
He added that efforts were ongoing to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraud, identify possible accomplices and determine whether more victims were affected.
“The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” the police spokesman stated.
Reacting to the arrest, the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Felix Ohagwu, commended the detectives for their professionalism and persistence, describing the operation as another milestone in the command’s fight against financial crimes.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of fraud are brought to justice and urged members of the public to verify the credentials of travel agents before making payments for visa processing or overseas travel arrangements.
The police also advised residents to report suspicious activities or suspected fraudsters to the nearest police station for prompt investigation.