Woman arrested for alleged N19m, €8,370 CoS fraud
Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate 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.
According to the EFCC, Sophina allegedly obtained the money from a victim under the pretext of procuring a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to enable him relocate to the United Kingdom to work as a caregiver.
The victim said he met the suspect on TikTok in 2024 and informed her of his plan to relocate to the UK. Sophina reportedly claimed she was an Assistant Psychologist at Priory Health Unit in Glasgow, Scotland, and that she had contacts who could secure a CoS for between €12,000 and €13,000.
She allegedly instructed the victim to make payments partly in naira and partly in euros. While she provided her bank account for naira payments, she allegedly directed that euro payments be made to foreign accounts belonging to her associates, claiming she did not use her personal foreign accounts for business transactions.
The petitioner said he paid a total of N19 million in eight tranches between August 8 and November 12, 2024, while €8,370 was paid in four tranches between August 12 and November 21, 2024 for the processing of the CoS.
However, after receiving the payments, the suspect allegedly failed to deliver the document as promised. When the victim requested a refund after waiting for months, she reportedly sent a fake transfer notification before blocking him on social media.
During investigation, Sophina reportedly claimed she handed the money over to another individual but has been unwilling to assist investigators in reaching the person.
The EFCC said the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
