Pastor Michael Ogundepo, 39, was detained by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ondo State Command, for allegedly engaging in a visa scam.
DSC Aidamenbor Daniel, the Command’s public relations officer, said in a statement released on Monday in Akure that the suspect obtained N1.67 million to secure a visa for a woman named Miss Fagbuyiro Ajetomobi-Yemi.
Daniel continued by stating that Ogundepo of No. 15 Ewu Agbo Street, Ikorodu Lagos, had the complainant’s passport and the money for two months, preventing her from applying for a new visa.
The suspect was sent multiple invitations by the command, but he turned them down. He pretended to be abroad and pretended to be calling from an international number when he called the complainant.As a result, the suspect was detained when he was asked to pay N3,000,000 for a job on a visa without realising it was a ruse.
The NSCDC PRO stated, “However, investigation has shown that he has deceived several other innocent clients.”
Daniel stated that following the conclusion of the inquiry, the suspect would face charges in court.
He claims that the pastor’s actions are prohibited by Ondo State’s 2006 Criminal Code Law, Section 419, Cap. 37, Vol. 1.
