The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a school proprietor in Akwa Ibom State, Imaobong Okpong, for allegedly masterminding a fake visa and scholarship scheme that duped unsuspecting victims of millions of naira.
According to a statement shared via the EFCC’s official X handle, Ms. Okpong, owner of Michael Udonquak Schools in Uyo, allegedly lured her victims with promises of fully funded scholarships and study opportunities abroad — offers that turned out to be completely fictitious.
Her arrest followed a petition by one of her victims, Blessing Bassey, who claimed she was swindled of ₦3 million under the guise of securing university admission and Canadian visas for herself and her husband.
Bassey told investigators that after transferring the money, the suspect stopped taking her calls and went incommunicado. She also alleged that Okpong had defrauded several others, including a victim who “got stranded in China” after discovering that the promised scholarship did not exist.
“Some of her victims travelled abroad with fake documents that left them stranded, while others faced deportation and huge financial losses,” Bassey stated in her petition.
The EFCC disclosed that the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations are completed.
This case highlights a growing wave of “Japa scams” in Nigeria — fraudulent offers of foreign scholarships and migration assistance that exploit the desperation of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad.
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