Visa Scam: Travel agent lands in trouble for defrauding victim of N7m

The police on Wednesday arraigned a 52-year-old man, Sarumi Abdulrasheed, at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over alleged N7 million Visa scam.

Abdulrasheed, whose address was not given, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Benson Emuerhi, told the court that Abdulrasheed committed the offences between April and May in Ikeja area of Lagos.

He alleged that the accused falsely presented himself as a travel agent and collected N7 million from the complainant, Chipizi Fopa-George, with a promise to procure him a Schengen Visa to France.

“The accused collected the money on instalments and failed to get the visa as promised; he converted the money into his personal use,’’ he said.

The prosecutor alleged that whenever the complainant asked for his money, Abdulrasheed threatened his life.

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Abdulrasheed, however, pleaded not guilty of the charge. He could be sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for stealing, and 15 years for obtaining money by false pretext if found guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olufunke Sule-Amzat, granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Sule-Amzat adjourned the case until July 30 for the mention.