Man arraigned over alleged N146m visa scam in Ekiti

A fifty-two-year-old man, Samuel Dada, has been arraigned before the Chief Magistrate’s court sitting in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly defrauding 13 people of N146 million under the pretence of getting them visas.

The prosecutor, Inspector Akinwale Oriyomi, said the defendant allegedly defrauded his victims, including one Olugbemi Dele and 12 others with false pretence to procure American visas and job opportunities for them.

He added that the crime was committed within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District between January to November 2024. Oriyomi said the offence is punishable under Section 376(2)(b) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State 2021 and Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. He also requested the court to remand the suspect to the Correctional custody in Ado-Ekiti, pending investigation.

But the defence counsel, Adunni Olanipekun, urged the court to grant his client bail, adding that he would not jump bail.The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20 million with two sureties in like sum. He added that the sureties must have a landed property in the district and adjourned to January 31, for a hearing.