Man, 44, Arraigned In Lagos Over Alleged N4.8m UK Visa & Work Permit Scam

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 44-year-old man, Emmanuel Kola, was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court over allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing N4,869,000 in Alimosho area of Lagos State.

According to the charge sheet, the Commissioner of Police is prosecuting Kola alongside others said to be at large.

The prosecution alleged that the offences were committed between February 28, 2024 and June 9, 2024, between the hours of 6:00am and 5:30am in Alimosho, within the Ikeja Magisterial District.

In Count 1, the defendant was accused of conspiring with others to commit felony to wit: conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing. The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Count 2 stated that Kola and others now at large allegedly fraudulently collected the sum of Four Million Eight Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand Naira, N4,869,000.00, from one Esther Onyukwu.

The prosecution alleged that the money was paid into an FCMB Account No. 0237123016 in the name of Iyanda Kolawole Olukunle and a Paga account number 0706643563 in the name of Lemonade Technology Limited – Akinsola Ayeomo.

The charge stated that the funds were collected from the complainant’s WEMA Bank Account No. 0282386760 under the pretence of procuring UK Visa, working permit and traveling ticket.

The prosecution further alleged that the defendant knew the representation to be false.

Count 3 accused the defendant of stealing the same total sum of N4,869,000.00 from Ms. Onyukwu. The offence is contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, asked the Court for a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove the allegations.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted the defendant bail with two sureties. The sureties are to show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment. The defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned for mention.

All allegations remain allegations until proven in court. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.