The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a Lagos-based woman, Joanah Eyere Eyong, and her company, Joanah Eyere Consulting Limited, over allegations of diverting N16.7m paid by two clients for visa processing services.
The defendants appeared before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, following their prosecution by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on a four-count charge bordering on stealing and fraudulent conversion of entrusted funds.
The commission accused Eyong and her company of collecting a total of N16,701,800 from two clients, identified as Ngozi Amanda Okwuchukwu and Udogwu Clement Ikechukwu, for visa applications but allegedly diverting the money for personal use.
According to the charge, the defendants fraudulently converted N5.7m belonging to Okwuchukwu between November 7 and 8, 2023, in Lagos, despite receiving the funds for visa processing.
In another count, the EFCC alleged that they converted N11,001,800 belonging to Ikechukwu between June 14 and July 29, 2024, after receiving the money for the same purpose.
The commission said the alleged offences contravened Section 383(1) and were punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the charges were read to them, both defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, F.B. Orilade, asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility and fix a date for trial.
However, Justice Daniel Osiagor granted them bail in the sum of N12m each, with one surety in like sum.
The court directed that the surety must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 15, own landed property within the court's jurisdiction and undergo verification by the court registrar.
The defendants were subsequently remanded in a correctional facility pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.
The court adjourned the case until March 17, 2027, for the commencement of trial.
