Travel agents in court for alleged visa fraud

The Police on Friday arraigned two travel agents in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N1, 050, 000 from a woman under false pretences of securing South African visa for her clients.

The defendants are Yusuf Salami, 44, and Nureni Akerele, 47.

Both are residents of Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State.

They are charged with conspiracy, stealing and obtaining by false pretences, before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, ASP Evelyn Ehieniua, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on June 26 at Iyana Ipaja.

The prosecutor said that the defendants obtained the sum from one Mrs Comfort Olajide on the pretext of getting South African visa for three of her clients.

She said that the defendants did not get the visa and did not return the money.

She said that efforts to retrieve the money failed.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Mr M. A. Adegbaye, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Adegbaye adjourned the case until Sept. 19 for mention.