Highly connected Lagos education consultant jailed for duping students of millions

The dreams of a group of youths to study in Britain have been dashed by a dupe who swindled them of several millions of naira. But while they lick their wounds, these youths could, at least, take consolation in the fact that the long arm of the law has caught up with the man behind their woes.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which investigated the case, said it had to engage in a battle of wits with Jones Omojevbe, the alleged mastermind, before he could be arrested. Indeed, Omojevbe, a native of Delta State, was arrested while he was ensconced among his securitymen. Sources said he and the security operatives had gone to intimidate one of the complainants to withdraw the case of fraud against him.

According to the spokesman of the commission, Osita Nwaja, the commission moved against Omojevbe after it had received a chain of petitions about his illegal activities. The EFCC said Omojvebe, a Director of the British Training Technology Association (BETTA), the institution he used to dupe the unsuspecting students, had been investigated, arraigned before a Lagos High Court and handed a two and lalf year prison term, which he had started serving.

Saturday Punch gathered that the commission was still receiving petitions from other students who claimed to be victims of Omojevbe.

Nwaja said the commission initially received petitions from 16 students. “We received petitions from 16 of them (students). Those are the ones that were bold enough to come out. The amount he collected from those ones ran into millions of Naira. So far, we have been able to trace over N3.5 million out of what he collected from these 16 students,” Nwaja told our correspondent.

Saturday Punch gathered that Omojevbe, whom his students called Director, promised them that he would not only get schools for them abroad, he would also get them student visas to enable them travel. One of the students, a young lady who would not want her name published, said she had to sell the only property she inherited from her late father in order to pay BETTA. She added that she did this because of her dream to have a Master’s Degree from a University in the United Kingdom.

Problems however started when after waiting for two over 12 months, the victims did not receive the promised admission letters or visas. “The reality of the situation dawned on them and we started receiving petitions,” Nwajah said.

In his statement to EFCC, Omojevbe acknowledged that he had collected the money from the agitated students. He, however, insisted that it was a failed deal and not fraud. It was learnt that he had even refunded N1. 3 million in the course of investigation.

However, the commission still went ahead and charged him to Ikeja High Court where he pleaded not guilty. Osita said, “We wanted it to serve as a deterrent to others who are in this false business. I can tell you that other petitions have continued to come into the Commission after the arrest of this suspect whom many referred to as “untouchable because of his numerous connections,” he said.


source: http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200804053531817

[/b]British Training Technology Association (BETTA), [b] is a well known ''visa procurring agent''. he had offices in virtually all the major cities in nigeria.duped an old classmate of mine years ago. Good thing that all his atrocities have been exposed.

this is only a warning to people that have dealings with student visa agents. majority of them are fraudsters.