MICHAEL AKINOLA
A man, Godfrey Osagie, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court over allegations of conspiracy, fraud, stealing, and forgery involving N32 million in a fake travel documents scheme.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between August and November 2025 at No. 302, Plaza Akiogun Bus Stop, Ipaja Road, Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District.
According to the Police, the suspect and others now at large, conspired to defraud one Kingsley Efionayi of No. 26, Ikotun-Idimu Road, Lagos State, of the sum of N9,000,000. The prosecution said that this contravened Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In the second charge, the Police alleged that the suspect presented himself as a travel agent to Kingsley Efionayi and obtained the sum of N9,000,000 from him under the the false pretence of procuring travel documents for him, which turned out to be false. The prosecution said that the act constitutes felony under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
On count three, the Police alleged Osagie and others to have fraudulently stolen the sum of N9,000,000 from Mr. Efionayi under the pretence of securing three travel passports for his clients. The offence is said to be punishable under Sections 286 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In the count four, the Police alleged that the suspect fraudulently presented fake travel documents of Kazakhstan belonging to Gerald Nworah Chukwuweike, Nosakhare Osayande, and Nosakhare Destiny to Kingsley Efionayi.
The Police alleged that the fake documents were presented after the complainant had spent N23,000,000 to enable his clients reach their travel destination. The prosecution said that this contravened Sections 363 and 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The total amount involved in the alleged scheme was N32,000,000, covering both the N9m for passports and the N23 million spent on the purported travel processes.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, 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.