Enugu, Nigeria — Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 33-year-old Mbah Chidinma Sophina for allegedly defrauding a victim of N19 million and €8,370 under the pretext of securing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for work in the United Kingdom.
According to the EFCC, the victim met Sophina on TikTok in 2024 and expressed a desire to relocate to the UK to work as a caregiver. Sophina, who claimed to be an Assistant Psychologist at Priory Health Unit in Glasgow, Scotland, assured the petitioner that she had contacts who could obtain a CoS for a fee ranging between €12,000 and €13,000.
Payments were instructed to be made in both Nigerian Naira and Euros. The petitioner said he transferred N19 million in eight installments between August 8 and November 12, 2024, while Euro payments totaling €8,370 were made in four installments between August 12 and November 21, 2024.
Despite acknowledging receipt of the payments, Sophina failed to deliver the promised CoS. When the petitioner requested a refund, she allegedly sent a fake transfer notification and subsequently blocked him on social media.
During the investigation, Sophina claimed that the money had been handed to another individual but has not cooperated with authorities to identify the person.
The suspect is expected to be charged to court once investigations are concluded, according to the EFCC.
