CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 43-year-old man, Folaranmi Rafiu, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in the Lagos Magisterial District over an alleged N8,350,000 Kuwait visa fraud.
Rafiu was arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing, contrary to the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant was brought before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kasunu in Charge No…/2026, in a case filed as Commissioner of Police vs Folaranmi Rafiu.
The prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji from the District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba, told the court that the defendant and one other person who is still at large, allegedly committed the offences between 12th January, 2025 and 14th February, 2025, within the Lagos Magisterial District.
According to the charge sheet, Count One states that the defendant and his accomplice allegedly conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit stealing, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Count Two alleges that the defendant fraudulently obtained under false pretence the sum of N8,350,000 from one Mrs. Agun-Ifafusi Bukky Olaitan with the pretence of procuring a Kuwait visa for her, knowing same to be false. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Count Three states that the defendant allegedly stole and converted to his own use the sum of N8,350,000 belonging to Mrs. Agun-Ifafusi Bukky Olaitan, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, the prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, asked the court for a date for trial and prayed that the defendant be remanded pending trial, as investigation is still ongoing to apprehend the other suspect who is at large.
The defence counsel however applied for bail on behalf of his client, assuring the court that the defendant would not jump bail and would be available for trial.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kasunu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1,000,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that the two sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. The sureties must also provide valid means of identification and their addresses must be verified by the court prosecutor.
The Magistrate further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending when he perfects his bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned to a later date for mention and trial.
It should be noted that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.