The Chief Executive Officer of TMT Travels and Tours Limited, Ifeanyi Onukwubiri, has reportedly been arrested in Owerri, Imo State, and transferred to Abuja following a fresh petition over allegations of visa fraud involving millions of naira.
The latest development was announced by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who said the arrest followed a petition submitted by his organisation, the Martins Vincent Otse Initiative, MVOI.
VDM said operatives of the Nigeria Police Force Special Tactical Squad, STS, arrested Onukwubiri in Owerri and brought him to Abuja. He identified the team as being led by ACP Victor Ogbeide.
He alleged that receipts presented by complainants to his organisation so far account for more than ₦200 million paid in connection with visa and travel transactions.
According to VDM, he subsequently met Onukwubiri in Abuja and the travel operator indicated that he was willing to resolve the complaints and make refunds. That account is VDM’s claim and has not yet been independently confirmed by Onukwubiri.
VDM has asked other people with complaints against TMT Travels and Tours to come forward, saying they would be taken to the police to make statements as efforts continue to investigate the allegations and recover funds.
The reported arrest, however, is not Onukwubiri’s first encounter with law enforcement over allegations involving TMT Travels.
The controversy became a major public issue in November 2025 after a wave of complaints from people claiming they had paid the Owerri-based company for overseas visa and employment processing but had either not received the promised services or refunds.
Some complainants also alleged that their international passports remained with the company.
Onukwubiri and TMT initially rejected the growing online accusations.
In a November 26, 2025 statement, the company described the allegations circulating online as “fake news” and thanked clients, friends and supporters who it said had defended its reputation.
But within days, what had largely been a social-media controversy became a police matter.
On November 28, the Imo State Police Command announced that Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma had directed the Monitoring Unit to investigate allegations of visa fraud and obtaining money under false pretence against the company.
Police said nine Nigerian passports had been recovered and Onukwubiri had been invited for questioning to assist investigators in establishing the facts.
At the time, Onukwubiri said customers who no longer wished to continue with their visa applications could request refunds.
The investigation subsequently moved to court.
According to the Imo State Police Command, Onukwubiri was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Owerri on December 4, 2025 after the Monitoring Unit concluded its investigation.
He was granted bail and released to a surety, while the matter was adjourned for further hearing.
After his release, Onukwubiri said TMT Travels was committed to resolving its differences with aggrieved clients amicably and promised that the company would improve communication with customers.
The complaints did not end there.
In January 2026, another customer, Obimdi Innocent Iteego, publicly alleged that he paid ₦3 million for a Japan work visa in February 2025 but had not received either the visa or his money back. He also alleged that his passport had remained with the company for months.
The controversy took another turn in February when a group of alleged victims took their complaints to VeryDarkMan.
In a video published online, more than 19 people appeared with VDM and accused TMT Travels and Onukwubiri of taking their money for visa-related services.
The group alleged that the amount involved across their cases was about ₦500 million and also raised complaints about passports allegedly being withheld.
That ₦500 million figure was an allegation by the group and should not be confused with the more than ₦200 million VDM says is represented by receipts currently submitted to his organisation.
Months after that intervention, VDM has now announced that a petition from MVOI led to the latest police operation.
On August 28, 2026, he said Onukwubiri had been arrested in Owerri by STS operatives and transferred to Abuja.
As of publication, the Nigeria Police Force had not issued a publicly available statement independently detailing the latest case, charges or the precise status under which Onukwubiri is being held.
The allegations against him remain allegations unless proved before a court of competent jurisdiction.
HOW IT UNFOLDED
November 24, 2025 — TMT is dragged across social media
Complaints against TMT Travels began gaining major traction online, with customers alleging that they had paid for visa and overseas employment services without receiving the promised visas or refunds.
Premium Times reported that social media was already “abuzz” with the allegations by Monday, November 24.
November 25 — Individual complaints begin receiving wider media attention
FIJ published the case of Enugu businessman Ifeanyichukwu Nwafor, who alleged that he paid TMT ₦2 million towards a Luxembourg work visa but neither received the visa nor a refund.
Nwafor also alleged that the company’s Facebook page blocked him after he repeatedly sought updates on his application.
November 26 — Oni Foto amplifies complaints; TMT calls allegations ‘fake news’
Social media influencer Oni Foto, also known as Mr K, published a series of complaints reportedly submitted by TMT clients and advised the public against entering new transactions with the company.
TMT responded the same day, describing the allegations circulating against it as “fake news” and thanking supporters who had defended the company.
This became the first major public defence from TMT as the controversy spread.
November 28 — Imo Police formally step in
The Imo State Police Command announced an investigation into allegations of visa fraud and obtaining money under false pretence against TMT Travels.
Police said nine Nigerian passports had already been recovered and invited Onukwubiri for questioning.
The command also said efforts were being made to recover money and additional documents belonging to complainants.
Onukwubiri responded that customers who no longer wished to continue their visa applications could request refunds.
Late November — More complainants emerge
Additional people began publicly describing their dealings with TMT, including customers who said transactions dated as far back as 2023.
One Delta State resident, Endurance Igwebuike, alleged that he paid ₦1.5 million in December 2023 for a Canadian work permit and was still waiting for either the visa or a refund nearly two years later.
December 4 — Onukwubiri is arraigned in Owerri
After its investigation, the Imo Police Monitoring Unit charged the matter to court.
Police said Onukwubiri was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Owerri on December 4, 2025.
The court granted him bail and he was released after meeting the bail conditions.
December 8 — Police confirm his release; Onukwubiri issues conciliatory statement
The Imo State Police Command publicly confirmed that Onukwubiri had been released in accordance with the court’s order.
The police said the case had been adjourned to January 21, 2026.
Following his release, Onukwubiri changed tone from TMT’s earlier dismissal of the online controversy, saying the company was committed to an amicable resolution with aggrieved customers and would work to improve its communication with clients.
January 12, 2026 — Another alleged victim goes public
Obimdi Innocent Iteego alleged that he had paid ₦3 million for a Japan work visa and had been unable to recover his money and passport.
He also alleged that more than 200 people had similar complaints against TMT. That figure was his claim and was not an independently established police figure.
February 9 — Alleged victims take case to VeryDarkMan
The controversy entered a new phase when more than 19 alleged victims appeared in a video with VDM.
They alleged combined losses of about ₦500 million and called for intervention by Nigerian authorities.
One complainant told VDM that when he went to the Imo State Police Command during the earlier controversy, more than 100 other complainants were present. He also alleged that Onukwubiri had previously agreed to refunds during efforts to settle the dispute.
Those statements were allegations made by the complainants.
February–August — VDM continues pursuing complaints
Following his meeting with the alleged victims, VDM continued drawing attention to the case while complaints were gathered by his organisation.
The matter increasingly shifted from the original Imo-based dispute to a wider campaign involving alleged victims from different parts of the country.
August 28 — MVOI petition triggers latest reported arrest
VDM announced that following a petition by his organisation, police STS operatives arrested Onukwubiri in Owerri and transported him to Abuja.
He said the operation involved the Special Tactical Squad under ACP Victor Ogbeide.
VDM said receipts currently presented to his organisation show more than ₦200 million in alleged losses.
He also claimed that he met Onukwubiri after the arrest and that the TMT boss expressed willingness to settle with complainants and issue refunds.
August 30 — More alleged victims asked to come forward
VDM has asked people who believe they lost money through TMT Travels to report to the MVOI office so their complaints can be documented and statements submitted to investigators.
The development leaves two major issues unresolved: what becomes of the earlier case instituted by the Imo State Police Command, and whether the latest Abuja investigation concerns new complainants or consolidates the earlier allegations.
Onukwubiri has not been convicted of the allegations, and the latest reported police action does not by itself establish guilt.
