By Sade Adewale,Ondo

An Ondo Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a 45-year-old man, Omoniyi Adetola, in Segede Correctional Centre, over N11million visa fraud.

The defendant was arraigned by the police on two counts of obtaining under false pretence and stealing.

According to the prosecution, the defendant committed the offence on March 15, 2024, in Ondo town.

The charge read,” That you, Omoniyi Adetola, on March 15, 2024, in Ondo within the jurisdiction of this Court with intent to defraud one Iyanuoluwa Peter, by obtaining the sum of N11million from the complainant under the false pretence of procuring visa and other travelling documents for him, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Omoniyi Adetola, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district did steal the sum of  N11,000,000, belonging to Iyanuoluwa Peter, by fraudulently converting the said money to your personal use and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 390(8)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

The prosecutor, Supol Bernard Olagbayi, told the court that three witnesses would testify in the case. Hence, he prayed the court to adjourn the case to enable him to present the prosecution witnesses and prepare them for trial.

The defence counsel, Mr. A. I. Ibrahim applied for the bail of the defendant in the most liberal terms.

Magistrate O. A. Omofolarin, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody till the next date of  adjournment.

Omofolarin gave the order when the defendant had nobody to stand surety for him in court.

She adjourned the case till April 25, 2024, for hearing.