Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Mbah Chidinma Sophina, over an alleged case of criminal breach of trust and obtaining money under false pretence amounting to N19 million and €8,370.
The EFCC said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of its Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Enugu Zonal Directorate following a petition from a victim who accused her of fraudulently collecting the money under the pretext of securing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to enable him relocate to the United Kingdom for employment.
According to the petitioner, he met Sophina on TikTok in 2024 after informing her of his intention to travel abroad to work as a caregiver.
The suspect allegedly claimed she was an assistant psychologist at a health facility in Glasgow, Scotland, and said she had contacts who could facilitate the issuance of a CoS for between €12,000 and €13,000.
The petitioner stated: “She instructed that payments be made partly in Nigerian naira and partly in euros. She provided her bank details for naira payments and the foreign accounts of her associates for euro payments, claiming she does not use her personal foreign accounts for business transactions.”
He said he subsequently paid a total of N19 million in eight instalments between August 8 and November 12, 2024, while the euro component, totalling €8,370, was paid in four instalments between August 12 and November 21, 2024, for the processing of the Certificate of Sponsorship.
However, after confirming receipt of the payments, the suspect allegedly failed to deliver the document as promised.
“When I later demanded a refund after waiting for months, she sent a fake transfer notification and then blocked me on social media,” the petitioner alleged.
The anti-graft agency said during the investigation, the suspect claimed the money was handed over to another individual, but has been unwilling to assist investigators in locating the person.
