CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 48-year-old man, Samson Atobatele, has been arraigned before the Magistrate Court of Lagos State sitting at Ogba over an alleged visa fraud involving the sum of Thirteen Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N13,480,000.00).
Atobatele was arraigned by the police on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and conversion.
According to the charge sheet marked Charge No….2026, the defendant and others still at large were alleged to have conspired to commit felony.
The police alleged that on or before 17th day of June 2025, at Makinde Street, Ijegun, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, the defendant conspired amongst himself and others at large to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
In Count Two, the police alleged that Atobatele and others at large fraudulently obtained the sum of N13,480,000.00 from one Ozondu Chukwueloka Arinzeno and some others under the pretence of procuring Spain and France visas for them, which he allegedly failed to procure.
The offence, according to the prosecution, is contrary to Section 313 and punishable under Section 314(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Count Three alleges that the defendant unlawfully converted the said sum of N13,480,000.00, property of Ozondu Chukwueloka Arinzeno and others, to his own use. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 280(1)(b)(2)(a) and punishable under Section 287(5)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The charge was prepared at the D9 Section, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos.
When the charges were read to him in court, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, told the court that the complainants reported that the defendant allegedly collected the money from them for the procurement of Spain and France visas but failed to deliver the visas and allegedly did not refund the money.
He urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial to enable the Police to prove the allegations against the defendant.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kasunu, granted the defendant bail with two sureties.
According to the court, the two sureties must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Magistrate Kasunu ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Center, Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned to a later date for mention, while the police said investigation is still ongoing to apprehend other suspects said to be at large.
The police Investigation Police Officer (IPO) in charge of the case is ASP Balogun Hakeem.
Legal experts say the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.