Police arrest 23 foreigners over visa scam, others 

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The command said investigations were continuing to determine how the alleged scheme operated and establish whether other individuals were involved.

The Ogun State Police Command has detained 23 foreign nationals following a raid on a residential property in the Onipanu-Ota area over alleged involvement in a Ponzi scheme, visa fraud and other immigration-related offences.

The suspects were arrested at about 11am last Tuesday after operatives attached to the Atan-Ota Division stormed a gated building inside an estate off Iyana Iyesi, Onipanu-Ota.

The operation was carried out following intelligence received by the police about suspected fraudulent activities at the premises.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, the officers secured the building before taking the suspects into custody for questioning.

“One Malian international passport bearing the name Diakite Alfousseini was also recovered during the operation,” the police disclosed.

The command said, “the suspects were arrested in connection with an alleged Ponzi scheme/visa scam and other immigration-related offences.”

Following preliminary investigations, 21 of the suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service on August 5 for further investigation and appropriate action.

However, the police retained two others for possible prosecution over alleged obtaining by false pretence and related offences.

The command said investigations were continuing to determine how the alleged scheme operated and establish whether other individuals were involved.

It added that the arrest followed credible intelligence provided to the police about the activities taking place at the location.