A 38-year-old travel agent, Kenneth Udemba, who allegedly defrauded two persons of N1.2 million under the guise of procuring visas for them faces 18 years imprisonment sentence for obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.
The defendant, who appeared before a Surulere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos on Thursday, resides at 133, Otun-Oba Bus Stop, Itire, Surulere, and is facing a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and stealing. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp. Courage Ekhueorohan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in September at No. 133, Otun-Oba Bus Stop, Itire, Surulere, and collected N992, 260 from one Mr David Ibeh with a promise to secure an Australian visa for him, but failed to do so.
He also claimed that the defendant collected N285,000 from one Mr Chinonso Obi under the pretext of procuring for him a Denmark visa.
According to Ekhueorohan, all efforts made by the complainants to get back their money have proved abortive.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. With Section 287 stipulating three years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 314 provides for 15 years jail term for obtaining money by false pretences.
The Magistrate, Mrs O.O. Otitoju, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, although, she ordered that the sureties should have means of livelihood and evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The case was then adjourned until January 19 for mention.
