Police arraign man over alleged N60m visa fraud in Lagos
Officers of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force have brought a man, Israel Onen, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N60 million visa fraud scheme.
Onen was arraigned on Monday before Justice Ibrahim Kala on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, obtaining money under false pretence, money laundering, and stealing.
The charges, filed by the police, are contained in suit number FHC/L/1203C/2025.
At the arraignment, the prosecution told the court that the defendant allegedly conspired with other individuals who are currently at large to defraud the complainant, Akinola Ayodele Emmanuel, between 2024 and 2025.
According to the prosecution, Onen was accused of dishonestly collecting the sum of N60 million on the claim that he would facilitate the procurement of Ireland and Schengen visas for the complainant’s clients.
The visas were allegedly never secured, and the funds were not refunded.
The police further stated that the alleged offences contravened relevant provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, and the Criminal Code.
When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, the prosecutor requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Zone 2 Command, citing multiple petitions and complaints against him.
However, defence counsel, O. Ogu, opposed the application and urged the court to grant his client bail, informing the court that a bail application had already been filed and served on the prosecution. He appealed for bail on liberal terms.
In his ruling, Justice Kala admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N60 million with one surety in the same amount.
The court ordered that the surety must either be a civil servant not below Grade Level 13 or a landed property owner with property valued at N60 million.
Justice Kala also directed the defendant and his surety to submit two passport photographs each, along with their National Identification Numbers, Bank Verification Numbers, bank account details, and telephone numbers used for transaction alerts.
He added that the court registrar and the prosecution would jointly verify compliance with the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until February 12, 2026, for the commencement of trial, while the defendant was ordered to remain in the custody of the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, pending the perfection of his bail terms.
