Travel agents charged with N3m Turkish visa fraud

Two travel agents, who allegedly defrauded a man to the tune of N3million ,on the pretext of procuring Turkish visas for him, was on Thursday arraigned in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The defendants – Olumide Olubashusi and Paul Okoye, are facing a three-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and fraud.
They, however, entered a not guilty plea.
The prosecutor, Insp. Victor Eruada , told the court that the defendants committed the offences on June 14 at Diamond Bank, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos.
According to him, the defendants conspired and collected N3million and nine international passports from the complainant, Mr. Chinedu Raymond, with a promise to procure Turkish visas and flight tickets for him.
“The accused persons collected the money and absconded, failed to get the visas nor flight tickets as promised, until he was sighted a month ago and was immediately arrested. ”
The offences contravened Sections 287, 411 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Section 287 provides 14 years imprisonment for offenders, while Section 314 stipulates 15 years for obtaining credit by false pretences.
The Magistrate, Mrs. G. O. Anifowoshe, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N1.5m with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until Aug. 8 for mention. (NAN)