Ikeja, Feb. 8, 2023: The police on Wednesday in Lagos arraigned a 25-year-old footballer, Lucky Michael, for alleged visa fraud.
Michael appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on charges of stealing and obtaining money by false pretenses.
The footballer, who resides at 23, Imadu St., Ijegun, Lagos State, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
The prosecutor, Insp Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Dec. 24, 2022, at Ogba, Lagos State.
Odugbo said that the defendant collected N900,000 from one Miss Olamide Alfred on the pretext of procuring a Botswana Visa and other travelling documents for her.
The prosecutor told the court that Michael went into hiding after collecting the money and efforts to get the travelling documents or collect back the money proved abortive.
Odugbo said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Mrs M. F. Onamusi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Onamusi adjourned the case until March 10 for mention.
In a related development, three saleswomen on Wednesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing 456 kegs of groundnut oil worth N4.1 million.
The defendants are Aminat Oluwafunmilayo, 45, Oluwakemi Onakunle, 40, and Oluwakemi Awolola, 33.
They live at Mushin and Iyana Ipaja in Lagos State and are charged with conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and stealing.
They, however, pleaded not guilty.
According to the prosecutor, Insp Chekwube Okeh, the women committed the alleged offences on Nov. 17, 2022, at Alafia Bus Stop, Mushin.
Okeh said that the defendants were employed by the complainant, Mrs Funmilayo Omodugba.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendants could not account for 456 kegs of groundnut oil given them to sell.
Stealing from one’s employer contravenes Section 287(7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State and is punishable with seven years’ imprisonment.
Conspiracy to steal is punishable with two years’ jail term under section 411 of the criminal law.
The Magistrate, Mrs S. K. Matepo, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each.
She adjourned the case until March 13 for mention.
