School proprietress, one other arraigned, remanded in EFCC custody for alleged visa scam

A school proprietress, Motunrayo Olasebikan and one other person, Abideen Adefisayo Tijani, were on Thursday arraigned before Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan for alleged involvement in a visa scam.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ibadan zonal office, arraigned them before Justice Ladiran Akintola.

Olasebikan and Tijani were dragged before the court on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and uttering.

One of the charge reads: “That you: Olasebikan Motunrayo and Tijani Abideen Adefisayo on or about September 2018, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial division of this Honourable Court, did make document titled: ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’ No. J511464256 in the name of one Adediran Pamilerin Adedayo purporting it to have been issued by the Canadian High Commission on the 6th of July, 2016 and expiring on 6th of June, 2021 with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence”.

Their arraignment followed a petition to the EFCC from one Inumidunsola Popoola, who wrote on behalf of himself and other victims.

Popoola alleged that sometimes in February 2018, he and three others were tricked by the defendants into parting with monies running into millions of Naira for processing travel documents.

The suspects, he added, presented themselves to be registered travel agents licensed to undertake the task.

READ ALSO: Dismissed army officer on the run, two others arrested over alledged fraud

He further alleged that though they were given some documents as agreed, it was later discovered that the papers were forged as they were turned down at the point of traveling.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

In view of their plea, the prosecution team led by Dr Ben Ubi prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the duo in custody pending the trial date.

The defence counsel, A. B. C. Ademiluyi and S. O. Alli, prayed the court for a short adjournment to hear the bail applications of their respective clients.

Justice Akintola subsequently adjourned the case to October 7 for hearing of the bail applications, and ordered that the accused be remanded at the EFCC’s custody.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now