The police in Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east, say they’ve begun an investigation into allegations of visa fraud towards a journey company, TMT Travels & Excursions Ltd.
The police spokesperson in Imo, Henry Okoye, disclosed this in an announcement on Friday.
Mr Okoye, a deputy superintendent of police, stated the Commissioner of Police in Imo, Aboki Danjuma, has ordered the police monitoring unit within the state to “totally” examine the visa fraud allegations.
The police spokesperson stated 9 Nigerian passports have been recovered from the company as a part of the investigation.
He stated the proprietor of the journey company, Ifeanyi Onukwubiri, has been invited for questioning to help the police in “ascertaining details” within the matter.
Mr Okoye appealed to Imo residents to stay calm and guaranteed that efforts had been ongoing to get better funds paid for visa providers in addition to any further paperwork belonging to affected individuals.
Mr Okoye cautioned Nigerians to train due diligence when participating in visa or journey schemes.
“Additional particulars of the investigation will likely be communicated in the end,” the police spokesperson assured.
Visa fraud allegations
The social media was abuzz on Monday, with some Nigerians accusing TMT Travels & Excursions Ltd of participating in visa fraud.
On Wednesday, a social influencer, Oni Foto, in any other case generally known as Mr Ok, shared on his Fb web page, a collection of complaints from supposed shoppers towards the journey company which is headquartered in Owerri, Imo State capital.
Within the complaints, among the shoppers claimed that the journey company allegedly acquired an enormous amount of cash as funds from them however failed to supply promised providers or present a refund after a very long time.
The journey company, in line with some shoppers, stopped responding to enquiries and requests regardless of earlier guarantees to get a piece visa for them.
In certainly one of his Fb posts on the alleged visa fraud, Mr Foto claimed that the journey company normally “pounces on their unsuspecting prey, the company collects cost, and the victims’ passports and dumps them in a locker of their workplace.”
He posted a listing of the alleged fraud victims.
The social media influencer advised folks to cease all visa transactions with the journey company instantly.
Journey company responds
Responding, the TMT Travels and Excursions described the allegations as “pretend information”.
“To all our shoppers, pals, companions, and well-wishers who known as, visited, messaged, and publicly debunked the pretend information spreading on-line, thanks,” the company wrote on its Fb web page on 26 November.
The journey company continued: “Your help reassured us that the reality all the time stands, and the individuals who know our work, worth what we’ve constructed over time.
“We deeply respect your love, loyalty, and confidence in TMT.”
