Footballer, 29, Sent To Prison For Swindling Married Woman N5m Over Visa Racket 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 29-year old professional footballer, Henry Stephen, has been arrested and charged for allegedly swindling a married woman, Mrs. Stella Obi, to the tune of the sum of N5m over visa racket in Lagos State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports the incident happened between September 2023 and January, 2024 at Oguntoyibo Street, off Ola Farm bus stop, Abaranje area of Ikotun, Lagos, where the defendant, Stephen accosted the victim.

The Police alleged the suspect to have obtained the money from the victim under the false pretence of securing a visa for her son to travel abroad for greener pastures.

The victim believed him and paid the said money because he told her that he was a professional footballer abroad.

However, the whole arrangement turned out to be a scam after the suspect collected the money, bolted away and disconnected every communication he had with the victim.

The matter was reported to the Police at Ikotun Division. The operatives trailed, eventually arrested the suspect and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for facts and sentence since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to  present the facts to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence that brought him before the Court.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. K.A. Ariyo, ordered his remand in custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, for the prosecutor to present the facts to enable the Court to sentence him accordingly.