A video circulating widely on social media has sparked outrage after multiple visa applicants accused Ifeanyi Onukwubiri, owner of TMT Travels and Tours, of allegedly defrauding them of more than N500 million through fake visa applications and fabricated COVID-19 tests.
The protest, captured on camera, shows more than 19 victims holding a banner and appealing to Nigerian authorities for urgent intervention. The video was shared on Monday on X by Oyindamola, an advertising and marketing agent, and features popular social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, interviewing the affected individuals.
The banner displayed in the footage reads in part:
“Dear Nigeria Authorities, Ifeanyi Onukwubiri TMT Travel and Tours Defrauded Us Half A Billion Naira With Fake Visa Application And Fake Covid-19. He Is A Scammer… He Seized Our 300 Nigerian And International Passports Since 2022 Till Now 2026 And Refuses To Refund Our Properties And Money.”
One of the victims, Obindi Innocent from Anambra State, narrated how he allegedly fell victim to the scheme after contacting Onukwubiri online in February 2025.
According to Innocent, he was charged N4 million for a Japanese visa, with an initial payment of N3 million and the balance to be paid upon approval. He said he travelled to Owerri to make the payment and submit his passport, after being assured the visa would be ready within six months and that his money would be refunded if the application failed.
However, months later, Innocent said there was no progress.
“After seven months, he kept telling me it was in the final stage. In the eighth month, he asked me to pay N34,000 for a COVID-19 test, which I later realised was fake,” he said. “By the ninth and tenth months, there was still no visa.”
Innocent added that when he demanded a refund and the return of his passport, Onukwubiri allegedly refused, claiming the application had reached a non-refundable stage. He said it was only after seeing similar complaints on Facebook—some dating back to 2022—that he realised he was not alone.
The victim further alleged police intimidation when he attempted to retrieve his documents.
“When I went to his office in Owerri, four police officers came within 10 minutes and chased me out,” he claimed. “At the Imo State Police Command, over 100 victims were already there making complaints.”
According to Innocent, Onukwubiri was later arrested and allegedly failed to provide evidence that any visa applications had been processed. Although he reportedly promised to refund the victims and sought an out-of-court settlement, no refunds have been made to date.
Another victim in the video said he paid N1.5 million in August 2025 for a Canadian visa, with an agreement to pay an additional N1.5 million upon approval. Like others, he said no visa was issued and no refund was given.
As of the time of filing this report, neither Ifeanyi Onukwubiri nor TMT Travels and Tours has publicly responded to the allegations. Calls are growing on social media for law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities to investigate the matter and ensure justice for the alleged victims.
