Man in court over alleged N19 million U.S. visa scam
The prosecution, who opposed it, said that the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming
The police on Thursday arraigned a 36-year-old man, Ernest Odo, in a Chief Magistrates’ Court, Wuse, Abuja, for allegedly cheating Adoghe Favour of N19.5 million.
The police charged the defendant with misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecution Counsel, Edwin Inegbenoise, alleged that the defendant deceived the complainant, Favour, under the guise of a travel agency and collected N19.5 million from her in 2024.
Mr Inegbenoise added that the defendant collected the sum to facilitate the complainant and her three siblings to the United States of America.
He further alleged that the defendant made the complainant believe that he could process a U.S. work resident and accommodation permit for them.
The prosecution counsel said that the defendant did not do the job and instead resorted to threatening the complainant with harm if she did not stay away from him.
He stated that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 309,312 and 320 of the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The defence counsel, Ofem Obeten, made a bail application citing Sections 158 & 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and prayed the court to grant it on liberal terms.
The prosecution, who opposed it, said that the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming, and it would serve as an incentive for him to jump bail if granted.
He said, “Before his arrest, an intelligence report shows that he was planning to travel out of the country.’’
The defence counsel said that there was nothing before the court to prove that the defendant would evade justice, citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which presumes him innocent until proven otherwise.
The Magistrate, Umar Dodo, granted the defendant N9.2 million bail with two reliable sureties resident within the court’s jurisdiction.
Mr Dodo ordered that the sureties must be in a public or private organisation and swear to an affidavit of means of livelihood.
He added that the sureties must produce means of identification and their addresses verified by the court’s registrar.
Dodo adjourned the matter until November 11 for a hearing.
(NAN)
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