30 Year Old Lagos Man Arrested Over Alleged Belgium Visa Scam

A 30-year-old man, Charles Desire, was on Tuesday in Lagos arraigned for allegedly collecting N300,000 from Foluke Sunday under the ploy to procure a Belgium visa.

Desire is standing trial before Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court 2, Lagos, on a four-count charge of fraud, theft, breach of peace and threat to life.

The prosecutor, Oluwafemi Adeleye, told the court that Desire had in October 2014, at Isolo Road, Ikotun, fraudulently obtained N300,000 from Sunday on the pretext of procuring a Belgium visa for her.

“The accused on the said date, did collect N300,000 from Foluke Sunday under the pretext of helping her to procure a Belgium visa with intent to defraud her,’’ Adeleye said.

The prosecutor also said that Desire did steal N385,000, property of Foluke Sunday, adding that the accused also conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.

“The accused, a member of Synagogue church fraudulently collected N5,000 from Sunday under ploy of helping her to procure anointing water but later converted the money to self-use,’’ he said.

He added that the accused on April 25, at about 2 p.m. at Ikotun Police Station threatened to violently deal with the complainant.

Adeleye told the court that the offences contravened Sections 312, 278, 166(d) and 56(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

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

The Magistrate, Mr Peter Nwaka, granted the accused N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum in addition to three years’ tax clearance.

Nwaka said that each of the sureties should deposit N20,000 to the Lagos State Chief Registrar’s account.

The case was adjourned to May 27, for mention.