Catch up with the news!

By Evelyn Usman

LAGOS- The Special Fraud Unit, Milverton Ikoyi, Lagos, has charged to court, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Global Edge Consulting Limited, Alliyu Nurudeen for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting members of the public through visa racketeering.

The suspect, who just completed the mandatory National Youth Service Corps, according to the Unit, was discovered during investigation to have defrauded over 3,000 Nigerians of several millions of naira for the issuance of residence and work permit in Canada and Australia.

Spokesperson for the Unit, Mrs Ngozi Isintume, said Alliu’s arrest was effected following report of his activities by the Canadian Deputy Commission to the Unit.

She said: “During investigation, the suspect admitted that his line of operation includes handling of applications and procurement of Diversity Visa Lottery to USA and issuance of Residence and Work permit to Canada and Australia.”

To make his activities look genuine, Insintume said the suspect printed some forms tagged ‘Application For Permanent Residence’ which were used to collect applicants’ details for work permit eligibility evaluation.

Thereafter, applicants were asked to pay of N4000 each into some bank accounts provided by the suspect, for a one-day seminar ,where a Canadian Immigration lawyer was expected to lecture the applicants this January.

But the bubble burst after some curious applicants contacted the Canadian High Commission, where it was discovered it was fraud.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in-charge of the Unit, Mr Chinwike Asadu, has advised members of the public, who wish to travel oversea to procure their visas from the appropriate embassies, rather than patronize the services of so-called agents or consultants, to avoid falling prey to fraudsters.