Man, 47, Arraigned For Swindling Victim Of N8.8m With Forged Visa

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 47-year old man, Osuolale Ibrahim Olalekan, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a victim, Ibrahim Yusuf, to the tune of the sum of N8.8m by procuring a forged visa for him to travel abroad for greener pastures. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the victim, Yusuf, went to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, to board a plane to travel to abroad and it was discovered that his traveling documents were all fake and he was not allowed to travel.

The incident happened on 15th April, 2025, at the airport in Lagos.

When the victim contacted the suspect, he had already blocked him, disconnected every communication he had with the victim and went into hiding.

The matter was reported to the Police. The operatives moved into action,  eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct against the complainant.

After thorough interrogation, the Police found him culpable for wilfully swindling the victim by procuring the forged documents, which were discovered at the airport.

He was subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

COUNT 1: “That you, Osuolale Ibrahim Olalekan and other now at large between 7th March, 2025 and 15″ April, 2025, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to-wit obtaining money under false pretence and forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

COUNT 2: “That you, Osuolale Ibrahim Olalekan and one other on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the sum of eight million, eight hundred and eighty thousand Naira (N8.880.000) from one Ibrahim Yusuf ‘m’, under the pretence of procuring Kuwait Visa for him, which you know you cannot deliver and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3141 (a) and punishable under Section 314 (3) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

COUNT 3: “That you, Osuolale Ibrahim Olalekan and one other on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did forge Kuwait Visa and presented it as genuine document with intent to defraud one Ibrahim Yusuf ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 (1)(B) and punishable under Section 365 (1) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.

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.