Man in court for N4m visa fraud

Four docked for stealing items worth N.7m at Apapa port
Illustrative picture. PHOTO: Comansu

A 35-year-old man, identified as Emmanuel Opurun, was on Friday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing the total sum of N4,150,000 for procurement of visas.

Opurun is facing a seven-count charge of conspiracy, false pretence and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Kolade Tedunjaiye, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometimes in December 2018, January 2019 and April 2019 at Abule-Odo, Lagos.

“The defendant conspired with one other at large to obtain an international passport with total sum of N900,000 from one Christian Amaechi under the pretence of procuring a Japanese  visa knowing same to be false,” Tedunjaiye said.

The prosecuted also said the defendant stole the cash sum of N900,000 property of one Christian Amaechi.

Tedunjaiye added that, “The defendant fraudulently obtained an international passport with cash sum of N1,250,000 from one Emmanuel Chukwuebuka under the pretence of procuring a Japanese visa knowing same to be false.

“The defendant stole the cash sum of N1,250,000 property of one Emmanuel Chukwuebuka.

“The defendant fraudulently obtained an international passport with cash sum of N2,000,000 from one Obiora Innocent under the pretence of procuring an Australian visa knowing same to be false,”

The prosecutor said the defendant stole the sum of N2,000,000 property of one Obiora Innocent.

According to her, the offences are punishable under sections 411, 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.

Magistrate O.S Aboiye granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties are required to furnish the court with proof of three years tax payment to Lagos State Government.

He adjourned the case till September 30, 2019 for mention.