Travel Agent In Court Over Alleged Visa Fraud

A travel agent, Livinus Odoh, 44, last Thursday appeared before an Ojo Magistrate Court in Lagos, charged with defrauding a visa seeker of N550, 000.

Odoh, who lives in Ojo, is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, theft and fraud.

The Prosecutor, ASP Godwin Eze, told the court that the accused defrauded Mr Leo Ibekwe on February 4, at the Alaba International Market, Ojo.

He said that the accused presented himself as capable of securing a Qatar visa for Ibekwe, and collected the sum from him.

“The accused did not provide the visa for Ibekwe and did not refund his money,” the prosecutor said.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The Tide reports that the accused is liable to 15 years imprisonment if convicted.

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mr Taslimi Shomade, granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Shomade adjourned the case to Jan. 13, 2014 for mention.