KINGSLEY EBERE
A 39-year old lady, Adenike Taiwo, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a victim, Mrs. Mariam Ajibola, to the tune of N9m under the false pretence of procuring visa to travel abroad, which turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Taiwo, was charged before the Ikorodu Magistrate Court, Lagos, on two-count charge of obtaining by false pretences and fraud under the Criminal Law of the State.
The incident happened on 14th May, 2025, at Sango Sanya Street, Agric area of Ikorodu.
The suspect was said to have obtained the money and promised to procure the documents within a period of time. But after she collected the money, she bolted away and disconnected every communication she had with the complainant.
The matter was reported to the Police. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the suspect for interrogation over her alleged conduct against the complainant.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found her culpable and charged her before the Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, she pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Adegeshin Famuyiwa, told the court that the defendant committed the offence by collecting money the from the complainant, Mrs. Mariam Ajibola, that she would help her and her three friends secure visas to Turkey and Luxembourg, which she failed to do.
He said that the defendant converted the money to her personal use. All efforts made by the complainant to get back the money or the visas proved abortive and the offences contravened Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr O.A. Ogbe, granted the defendant bail in the the sum of N2million with one surety in like sum, who must provide evidence of three years tax payment to Lagos State Government and address will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 4th September, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.