Court remands ‘Pastor’ in prison custody for Visa fraud

An Igbosere Magistrate Court has remanded a pastor, Sunday Mark Okoro in Ikoyi Prson for visa fraud.
The accused who resides at Amodu Tijani Close, Victoria Island, Lagos, was arrested for allegedly obtaining N550,000 from Joy Chioma Daniel under the pretence of procuring Canadian visa for her.

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He allegedly failed to procure the visa for the complainant and refused to refund the money.
Magistrate B.I. Bakare ordered that the accused be remanded in prison after he pleaded not guilty to the five count charges of felony, to wit, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing preferred against him by the police at the Area A Command, Lagos Island, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Fransisca Job told the court that the accused committed the alleged crime on 17 November, 2017 at Amodu Tijani Close, off Sanusi Fafunwa, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Job said that a complainant reported to the police that the accused introduced himself to her as a visa consultant with the Canadian Embassy in Lagos and collected N550,000 and international passport from her with the promise to procure Canadian visa for her within three weeks.

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Job said that the complainant stated that the accused failed to provide the visa and also refused to refund the money to her till date.
Rather than refund the money to the complainant, the accused warned her on phone to stop disturbing him about the visa or else he would kill her.
The offence is punishable under sections 411, 168(d) 314(1)(a) and 280(1)(a)(b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the crime in the open court and Magistrate Bakare granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum who must show proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

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Bakare adjourned the case till 18 July, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept in prison custody until he is able to perfect the conditions attached to the bail.

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