Man arrested in Lagos for allegedly swindling N500m from married woman in visa scam
A 42-year-old man, Hassan Taiwo, was arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a married woman, Mrs. Doris Ogunba, by falsely promising to procure UK working visas for her clients.
The incident occurred in 2022, but the suspect evaded arrest until 2023 when he was apprehended in Lagos.
The arrest followed a petition by the complainant to the Force Criminal Investigation Department in Alagbon, Lagos. They tracked and detained Taiwo for interrogation regarding his alleged conduct.
Taiwo allegedly convinced the complainant to pay a sum of N500 million for the visas, providing a specific date for their readiness. However, after obtaining the money, he absconded and cut off all communication, leaving the complainant stranded.
READ ALSO: NSCDC lures wanted pastor with N3,000,000 over N1.6 million visa scam
The Police later traced and arrested him. When asked to refund the money, Taiwo claimed he had already spent it and could not reimburse the complainant.
Consequently, the Police charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for conspiracy, obtaining by false pretense, and stealing.
Although he pleaded not guilty during the arraignment, the prosecutor, Barrister S.O. Ayodele, requested a date for the hearing to provide evidence of his alleged offenses
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Akinde, granted him bail set at N10 million with two sureties in a like sum, mandating the sureties to deposit N2 million each to the Court. Their taxes were also required to be verified by the Court.
The case was adjourned for mention, and the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional facility pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
