Lawyer docked over alleged visa fraud

intern

November 24, 2016 4:31 PM

The accused pleaded not guilty to the counts of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

A court of justice

A lawyer, who allegedly defrauded a woman of N1.7 million under the pretext of helping her to procure American visa and plots of land was on Thursday docked in Lagos.

Kayode Awwal, 51, appeared at a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court on a three-count charge.

The resident of 143, Akerele Extension, Surulere, Lagos, was accused of defrauding Miss Bright Oguntunde.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the counts of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Olugbenga Salami, told the court that the accused committed the offences at about 12.00p.m., on April 27, 2015, at No. 143, Akerele Extension, Surulere, Lagos.

The prosecutor said that the accused first obtained N320,000 under the pretext of procuring an American visa for the complainant.

"At another time, he obtained N1, 460,000 under the pretext of helping her to purchase two plots of land at Ikorodu, Lagos," Salami said.‎He submitted that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312(1) (a) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.‎

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. A. Famobiwo, granted the accused bail in the sum of 100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Famobiwo ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused, while the other should be a property owner in Lagos state.

She also said that sureties should provide evidence of tax payments, while their addresses should be verified.‎‎

The magistrate adjourned the case till Feb. 3, 2017 for mention.

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