The Police on Monday arraigned a 44-year-old man, Olalekan Balogun, before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, over alleged N15 million visa procurement fraud.
Balogun, whose house address was not disclosed, is facing charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, told the court that defendant, and others at large, conspired to commit the offences.
Akinloye said that the defendant had, in April, obtained the sum of N15 million from the complainant, one Bishop Adegbenro Oshinlaja, at Top One Garden, Podo, Ibadan, under the pretence of procuring a Hajj visa for six people, knowing same to be false.
He named the six individuals as: Najeem Farulahi, Abdulahi Rofiat, Muideen Mayowa, Hammed Iyabo, Salami Abiola and Ojelade Adekunle.
The prosecutor said that the visa was to enable them to participate in the 2024 hajj pilgrimage, adding, however, that the defendant converted the N15 million to his personal use.
According to him, offences contravene Sections 390 (9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Defence Counsel, Mrs Ifeanyi Okah, while pleading for the court’s consideration for bail for her client, said the amount obtained by the defendant was N8.5 million, as against the N15 million being claimed.
Okah prayed the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal term.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.
Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a landed property owner, with Certificate of Occupancy within the court’s jurisdiction, while the other must be a blood relation of the defendant.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Oct. 28 for hearing.
