2 docked over alleged N90, 000 visa-scam

Two men, who allegedly took N90, 000 from one Michael Abayomi and failed to secure a Dubai Visa they promised him, were on Tuesday granted N50, 000 bail each by an Apapa Magistrates’ Court.

The court’s chief magistrate, Mr Titus Abolarinwa, also granted the accused two sureties each in like sum as part of their bail conditions.

Abolarinwa then adjourned the case till April 19 for mention.

The accused: Jide Gbose, 32, and Olatunga Ayonfe, 32, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

The accused, both residing in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Tony Elibeh, had told the court that the accused committed the offences in October 2014 at No.3, Barra St., Ajegunle in Apapa, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused conspired to collect N90,000 from the complainant, with a promise to secure a Dubai-visa for him.

Elibeh said that the accused, instead of securing the visa for the complainant, converted the complainant’s money to their personal use.

“All efforts by the complainant to get a refund of his money from the accused failed,’’ he said.

Elibeh said the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for offenders.