Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a 33-year-old woman, Mbah Chidinma Sophina, over an alleged fraud involving N19 million and €8,370 linked to a fake United Kingdom relocation arrangement.

The anti-graft agency Spokesman, Dele Oyewale said Sophina was arrested by operatives of its Enugu Zonal Directorate for alleged criminal breach of trust and obtaining money under false pretence.

According to the commission, the suspect allegedly defrauded her victim under the pretext of securing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a document required for foreign workers seeking employment in the United Kingdom.

According to him, the victim, in a petition to the EFCC, said he met the suspect on TikTok in 2024 and informed her of his intention to relocate to the UK to work as a caregiver.

Sophina allegedly claimed she worked as an assistant psychologist at the Priory Health Unit in Glasgow, Scotland, and that she had contacts who could secure a CoS for between €12,000 and €13,000.

The petitioner said the suspect instructed him to make payments partly in naira and partly in euros. She allegedly provided her bank details for naira payments and directed that euro payments be made into foreign accounts belonging to her associates, claiming she did not use her personal foreign accounts for business transactions.

According to the EFCC, the victim paid N19 million in eight instalments between August 8 and November 12, 2024. He also paid €8,370 in four tranches between August 12 and November 21, 2024 for the processing of the document.

However, after confirming receipt of the funds, the suspect allegedly failed to provide the Certificate of Sponsorship as promised, Oyewale explained.

When the victim demanded a refund after months of waiting, the suspect reportedly sent a fake transfer notification and later blocked him on social media.

Oyewale said during investigation, the suspect claimed the money had been handed over to another individual but had been unwilling to assist investigators in locating the person.

The commission said Sophina would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. (The Sun)

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