Man Arraigned For Allegedly Swindling 2 Women Of N19m Over Visa Procurement

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Two women, Ayodele Funmilayo and Florence Bola Oguntoyinbo, have been defrauded to the tune of N19m by a suspect, Ayodeji Joseph, under pretense of procuring UK Visa for a concert for them which turned to be a scam in Lagos State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on June 2025 at Sunday Abraham Close, Ipaja, Lagos where the suspect collected the money in question under false pretence.

However,  after the suspect,  Ayodeji Joseph collected the money he bolted away and did not procure any Visa for the complainants and disconnected every communication he had with the complainants.

Thus, the matter was reported to the Police who moved into action and eventually arrested the suspect and detained at station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

During the interrogation the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment if he was tried and found guilty before Court.

 

The charges read :

 

COUNT I: “That you, Ayodeji Joseph ‘M’, sometime in June 2025, at Sunday Abraham Close, Ipaja, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Nineteen Million Naria (N19,000,000.00K) From Ayodele Funmilayo and Florence Bola Oguntoyinbo “F” under the pretense of procuring a UK Visa for a concert for them, which you never did and thereby committed an offence and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

 

COUNT II: “That you, Ayodeji Joseph ‘M’, on same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did fraudulently convert to your personal use the sum of Nineteen Million Naira Only (N19,000,000.00K) Property of one Florence Bola Oguntoyinbo “F” and Ayodele Funmilayo “F” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”

 

He pleaded not guilty.

 

The prosecutor, Mr. Lucky Ihiehie, 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. M.O. Tanimola, 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.