Man, 30, Arraigned Over Alleged ₦20 Million UK Visa Fraud In Lagos

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

 A 30-year-old man, Adega God’sGift, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court for allegedly defrauding a businessman of ₦20,000,000 under the pretense of procuring United Kingdom travel documents.

The defendant was brought before the court on a two-count charge filed by the Commissioner of Police with charge number NOMME/881/882/2026.

According to the prosecution, God’sGift committed the alleged offences between March 8, 2025 and January 13, 2026 at about 5:53pm and 8:40pm respectively in Egbeda area of Lagos.

The court heard that the defendant allegedly obtained the sum of Twenty Million Naira from one Nnamdi Nwosu with a false promise to secure travel documents to the United Kingdom.

The prosecution told the court that the defendant knew the representation to be false at the time he collected the money from the complainant.

The charge stated that the act contravened Section 313 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and is punishable under Section 314 of the same law.

In the second count, the defendant was also accused of stealing the same sum of Twenty Million Naira, property of Nnamdi Nwosu, within the Ikeja Magisterial District.

The prosecution said the alleged theft is contrary to Section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 and punishable under Section 287.

The matter was handled by Inspector Olime Shola of Gowon Estate Police Division, while the charge sheet was signed by SP Ade.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, SP Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove the allegations.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Usman, granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5,000,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment to be met before he could be released from custody.

The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.

Legal experts say cases of travel document fraud have increased in Lagos, with authorities urging members of the public to verify any travel agent before making payments.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Court of competent jurisdiction.