By Ayodele Popoola

Two travel agents who allegedly defrauded a woman of N33million under the pretence of procuring visa for her, have been arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The police charged the duo: Oluwafemi Adedayo,40 and Godwin Thompson, 34, with five counts of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, fraud and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintemehin told the court that the defendants committed the offences between July 10, 2023, and April 24, 2024, around Jenyo Hotel, Igoba Akure.

Akintimehin said the defendants conspired to obtain the sum of N33,633,000, from one Joy Ndoka, to procure a traveling visa and tickets for her clients, but failed to do so.

He alleged that, instead, the defendants stole and converted the money into their personal use.

The alleged offences run contrary to Sections 516, 419 and 390(8) of the Criminal Laws of Ondo State, 2006

The prosecutor said, “The defendants approached the complainant, claiming they were travel agents and promised to help her procure visas and tickets for her clients.

“After collecting the money from the complainant, they refused to perfect the visa and absconded to an unknown destination.

“Efforts made by the complainant to get the visas or retrieve his money from them proved unsuccessful as the defendants refused to pick up the phone calls from the complainant.

“The complainant reported the matter to the police in Akure and they were later accessed by tracking.”

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

The prosecutor, subsequently prayed for an adjournment to allow more time to review the case file.

The defence counsels, H. Orisatimehin and N. Isaiah did not object to this request but appealed for the court to grant bail on favourable terms, assuring that their clients would present dependable sureties.

Chief Magistrate Sunday Oladapo granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N3million, with two sureties in like sum.

He said the sureties must be residents within the court jurisdiction and their addresses be verified by the court.

The case was adjourned till December 4, 2024, for hearing.