EFCC has nabbed doctor over alleged ₦39m visa and job fraud.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Dr. Nekabari Dambere Nathan, a medical practitioner based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly defrauding clients of N39,157,000 under the guise of providing international visas and job placements.
This Nigeria news platform gathered that Nathan was arraigned alongside his company, Global Horizons Academy Ltd, on Thursday, before Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and advance fee fraud.
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According to the charge, between April 8 and December 12, 2023, Nathan allegedly obtained N39.1 million from Justice Toojah Iyieagbu, Managing Director of Riskout Consults, claiming the money was for processing visas to Canada, Ireland, and the United States of America for his clients.
The EFCC stated that the promise was false and constituted an offence under Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
The charge reads in part: “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 Thirty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Fifty-Seven Thousand Naira (N39,157,000,00 only), 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) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.”
Dr. Nathan pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel A. Abubakar requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
Defence counsel Friday Otanjah informed the court that a bail application had already been filed on medical grounds, requesting the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to stand trial.
Justice Ajoku ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the bail hearing and adjourned the case to June 25, 2025, for hearing of the bail application. The trial was scheduled to commence on November 27, 2025.
According to the EFCC, the case followed a petition filed by Iyieagbu, who alleged that Dr. Nathan posed as a professional caregiver trainer and travel agent. The petitioner said Nathan falsely promised to secure visas, job placements, and enrollment in IELTS exams for Nigerian students interested in relocating abroad.
Iyieagbu alleged that multiple students transferred the total sum of N39.1 million to Nathan, who thereafter became unreachable and allegedly frustrated all efforts to recover the funds.
