The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned Dr. Nekabari Dambere Nathan, a medical practitioner in Port Harcourt, over alleged visa fraud amounting to N39.1 million.
He was arraigned alongside his company, Global Horizons Academy Ltd, before Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on a one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
According to the charge, Nathan and his company allegedly collected N39,157,000 from Justice Toojah Iyieagbu, Managing Director of Riskout Consults, under the pretext of securing visas for Canada, Ireland, and the United States for clients between April and December 2023, a promise the EFCC said was false.
Nathan pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Prosecution counsel A. Abubakar requested the defendant be remanded, while defence counsel Friday Otanjah applied for bail on medical grounds.
Justice Ajoku ordered the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and adjourned the case to June 25, 2025, for the bail hearing and to November 27 for the commencement of trial.
Nathan was arrested following a petition alleging that he falsely presented himself as a travel agent and care-giving trainer, convincing several students to pay him millions for visa processing and job placements abroad.
The petitioner claimed that after collecting the funds, Nathan failed to deliver on his promises and became unreachable.
