The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibadan Zonal office, on Thursday, September 24, 2020, arrests two persons, one Motunrayo Olasebikan and Abideen Adefisayo Tijani, before Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan for alleged involvement in a visa scam.
Mrs Olasebikan, a school proprietress in lbadan was arraigned alongside Tijani on a seven-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering.
One of the charge reads:
“That you: Olasebikan Motunrayo and Tijani Abideen Adefisayo on or about September 2018, at Ibadan within the Ibadan Judicial division of this Honourable Court, did make document titled: “Electronic Travel Authorisation” “No. J511464256” in the name of one Adediran Pamilerin Adedayo purporting it to have been issued by the Canadian High Commission on the 6th of July, 2016 and expiring on 6th of June, 2021 with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine, which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence”.
The arraignment was made following a petition written by one Inumidunsola Popoola on behalf of himself and other victims to the Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission at Iyaganku Ibadan.
In the petition, Popoola alleged that sometimes in February 2018 he and three others were dwindled by the defendants on account of securing travel documents. He added that the suspects presented themselves to be registered travel agents licensed by government agency to undertake the task.He further alleged that after payment was made to the duo, they were given some documents which was discovered to have been forged as they rejected at the point of departure.
However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
In view of their plea, prosecution team led by Dr. Ben Ubi prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand the duo in custody pending the trial date.
The defence counsel, A. B. C. Ademiluyi and S. O. Alli, prayed the court for a short adjournment to hear the bail applications of their respective clients.
Justice Akintola adjourned the case to October 7 for hearing of the bail applications, and ordered that the accused be remanded at the EFCC’s custody.
