MICHAEL AKINOLA
The purported divine direction for a cleric, Pastor Adeniyi Kayode, to travel abroad for greener pastures with members of his family, has turned to be a hoax as he was swindled in Lagos State to the tune of N5m, which he paid in order to procure visas.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Pastor Kayode is now stranded as the suspected fraudster, Olumide Womiloju, who had posed as a travel agent, obtained the money and bolted away.
Though the 35-year old Womiloju was later arrested six months after, he was said to have spent the whole money and unable to refund it.
According to Police sources, the cleric, Pastor Kayode contacted Womiloju and informed him that he wanted to travel abroad with members of his family and he needed visas for them to travel to the USA.
The suspect promised to procure the visas and charged him the said amount on condition that he would procure visas to Guatemala county and from there they will travel to USA.
Pastor Kayode believed him, eventually paid the money and he gave him a time frame when the visas will be ready for him to travel abroad with members of his family.
Unknown to him, he paid the money into a wrong hand as immediately the money was paid into Womiloju’s account, he bolted away with the money.
When Pastor Kayode waited for the time they had agreed on and contacted him, he was unable to do anything and disconnected all the communication links he had with him.
It was then that it dawned on the Pastor that he had been swindled and he reported the alleged fraud to the Police at Area C Command of Lagos State. The Police moved into action, eventually arrested and detained him for interrogation over the conduct.
During interrogation, he admitted to have obtained the money and had spent it as he claimed to have used part of the money to facilitate the visa process, which did not work out as he planned.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Yaba Magistrates Court for conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Thomas Nurudeen, asked the Court to give a short adjournment for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. P.E. Nwaka, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood.
However, he was remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions while the matter was adjourned till 5th December, 2022, for mention.