In a bid to sanitize the system, the police have successfully tracked down an alleged fraudster, Mr. Ajero Okere who resides in Abuja and who has been at large for months.

Mr. Okere was alleged to have connived with his wife and one Yetunde Lawal to extort money from people who want to procure visa.

According to a police source, several petitions have been written accusing Okere of defrauding those he had promised to help secure a visa. Efforts were made to bring Okere to provide answers to the allegations against him but he simply went into hiding.

However, it was not long before the long arm of the law caught up with Okere. A team of policemen from the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti had laid a siege for him, and like a mouse, Okere had fallen into their trap.

A police source disclosed that in order to lure out Okere from his hiding place, a parcel was sent to him in Abuja through Ifesinachi Transport. The police had waited patiently for five days before Okere finally resurfaced on June 18, 2007 to claim the parcel. It was at that point that the police had picked him up.
The news of his arrest had attracted not less than 10 visa agents who claimed to have given Okere money to help procure visa for their clients. One the agents told Saturday Sun that Yetunde was the co-ordinator of the racket.

"During the trade fair, visa procurement is normally difficult. But Yetunde promised us that Mr. Okere is highly connected with the External Commission in Nigeria. She gave us an account number, which belongs to Mr. Okere. We paid the amount of money required and since then we have not heard from him. He changed his phone number and address. Please, let him return those international passports to the owners, they are on our neck. Thank God that he has been arrested," she said.

Another victim, who was duped of N1 million narrated thus: "I had gathered all the money my family could source for me to travel to Canada. I met Mr. Okere whom I heard could help me secure a visa. I had paid the N500, 000 that he initially demanded for. He told me that in a matter of weeks the visa would be ready. But weeks turned into months and there was no visa. Rather than refund my money, he changed his phone number and location. But thank God he has been nabbed by the police, at least my international passport would be returned to me."

Police have charged Okere and his accomplice to court with for fraud. The case has been adjourned to August 10, 2007.