Arabic Teacher Charged With Visa Fraud

A 39-year-old Arabic teacher, Yusuf Kamaldeen, on Tuesday appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with conspiracy, theft and fraud.
The police prosecutor, Sergeant Emby Ingobu, told the court that the accused of 2, Dare Adelowe Close, Idiya, Agbado, Lagos, western Nigeria, committed the offences sometime in July 2012, around Ikoyi area of Lagos.

According to him, the accused collected N690,000 from  Mr Sarafadeen Abdulraheem, a police officer, under the pretence of procuring him a Hajj visa.
Ingobu told the court that the accused allegedly failed to provide the visa as promised, and also refused to refund the money he collected for the purpose.

The prosecutor said the accused allegedly converted the money to his personal use, without the consent of the complainant.
The prosecutor also alleged that the accused presented himself as a travel agent, a representation he knew to be false.

He said that investigations into the matter was still ongoing, and therefore, applied for adjournment.
Ingobu said the charge contravened Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused may be sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, if convicted.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of N150, 000 on each of the charges, with two sureties each in like sum.
The Magistrate, Mrs I. O. Omotosho, adjourned the case till 11 November for trial.

September 18, 2013