A 40-year-old businessman, Kayode Jacob, made an appearance at the Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Tuesday, facing charges of N4.3 million New Zealand visa fraud. Jacob, who has no fixed residential address, pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and stealing.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Ikem Uko, the defendant allegedly defrauded three individuals of N2.35 million, N1.35 million, and N600,000 at different times between August 2020 and October/November 2021 in the Imeke area of Badagry, Lagos state.
Uko further explained that Jacob deceived Owonare Adeniyi by obtaining N2,350,000 under the pretense of procuring a two-year New Zealand working visa, which was later discovered to be false. Similarly, he collected N1,350,000 from Omosanya Shina and another N600,000 from Dare Sholade, promising to procure New Zealand visas for them, which were also discovered to be fake.
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The prosecutor added that Jacob failed to fulfill his promise and instead converted the total sum of N4.3 million from the three complainants for his personal use. The defendant’s actions contravene Sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, with Section 287 stipulating a three-year jail term for stealing.
Chief Magistrate Patrick Adekomaiya granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties of equal amount. One of the sureties must be a blood relation of the defendant, while the other should be a community leader. The case was adjourned until May 10 for mention
