A 40-year-old travel agent, Rufai Onakoya, was on Monday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N300,000 under false pretence to procure a South African visa for an applicant.
Onakoya is facing a three-count charge of false pretence, fraud and stealing.
The prosecutor, Inspector Edet Ekpo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on May 27, 2019 at Ijora, Olodi-Apapa, Apapa.
“The defendant conspired together with others at large by fraudulently obtaining the sum of N300,000 from one Rita Ebele with the pretence that he was going to procure a South African visa for her, a representation which he knows to be false,” Ekpo said.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 411, 328 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Nurudeen Layeni granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties are required to furnish the court with evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the matter till July 22, 2019 for mention.