Woman Duped N7m Over Desperation To Secure Visa

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A woman, one Chipizi Fopa, has been duped in Lagos after some suspected conmen tricked her and promised to secure a French Visa for her to travel abroad in search of greener pastures.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the victim fell into their trap because of her desperation to travel abroad and the suspects took advantage of that to defraud her.

After she contacted one of the suspects and explained her desire to travel to France but needed someone that will assist her to secure visa and other traveling documents. The contact promised to assist her and contacted other accomplices who assured her of getting the visa within a certain period and she parted with the money.
However, after obtaining the money from her they escaped, did not secure the visa and she became frustrated.
The alleged fraud was reported to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal, who directed the X-Squad of the Command to fish out the suspects. The police trailed the suspects and arrested one Festus Akooko while other accomplices escaped and were now at large.

P.M.EXPRESS scooped that at the Police Command, Mr. Akooko admitted that they obtained the money from the victim and have shared it among themselves and did not secure any visa for her.
He was charged before the Ikeja Magistrates court for conspiracy and stealing.
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, informed the court that the other suspects were still at large and the police were making efforts to arrest them to sustain the allegation of conspiracy.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Sule-Amzat, granted Akooko bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect the bail condition. The matter was adjourned till 26th November, 2018.