A 48-year-old travel agent, Akiah Edward, was on Tuesday arraigned before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court in Isabo for allegedly obtaining N6 million under false pretence. Edward is facing a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence and conduct likely to cause breach of peace. The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on June 21 at about 2:30 pm in Abeokuta.
According to the prosecutor, Edward was introduced to the complainant, Mr Nasir Abiola, as a travel agent, and promised to procure a Canadian visa for him. The defendant asked Abiola to deposit N500,000 as a sign of commitment to the travel arrangement. This initial deposit was followed by additional payments of N4.7 million and N800,000, bringing the total amount collected to N6 million.
The prosecutor alleged that Edward and Abiola had agreed on a balance of N3 million to be paid upon completion of the visa process. However, after Abiola paid the total sum of N6 million for the visa application, he requested progress on his visa application, to which Edward provided excuses that were not justified. This led to the complainant reporting the matter to the authorities.
The offences allegedly committed by Edward contravene Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006. Edward pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Magistrate, Mrs O.O Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N9 million with two sureties in like sum.
The Magistrate ordered that the sureties be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary. She also ordered that Edward be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending perfection of his bail conditions. The case has been adjourned until October 14 for hearing.
The alleged visa fraud case highlights the risks faced by individuals seeking travel and visa services from unregistered or unscrupulous agents. In recent times, there have been several reported cases of visa fraud and other related scams in Nigeria. The authorities have been urged to take decisive action against those involved in such fraudulent activities.
The arraignment of Akiah Edward serves as a warning to others who engage in similar fraudulent activities. The court’s swift action in granting bail and adjourning the case for hearing demonstrates the commitment of the judiciary to tackling such cases. The outcome of the case is expected to provide relief to the complainant and serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in similar activities.
Key points
- The defendant, Akiah Edward, was granted bail in the sum of N9 million with two sureties in like sum.
- The case has been adjourned until October 14 for hearing.
- The offences allegedly committed by Edward contravene Sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, 2006.
