Police arraign a suspect over alleged N60m visa fraud as a Federal High Court in Lagos grants bail pending trial

Officers of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday arraigned a suspect before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N60m visa racketeering scheme.

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The defendant, Israel Onen, was docked before Justice Ibrahim Kala on four counts bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, fraud, and stealing.

The charges, marked FHC/L/1203C/2025, were preferred by the Nigeria Police Force.

During the arraignment, the prosecution told the court that Israel Onen conspired with others now at large between 2024 and 2025 to defraud the complainant, Akinola Ayodele Emmanuel.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained N60m under the pretence of procuring Ireland and Schengen visas for the complainant’s clients.

He said the visas were never procured and the money was not returned.

The police added that the alleged offences contravened provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the Money Laundering Act, and the Criminal Code.

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

Following the plea, the prosecutor requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Zone 2 Command, citing multiple complaints against him.

Defence counsel, O. Ogu, opposed the application and asked the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal terms.

In a ruling, Justice Ibrahim Kala granted bail in the sum of N60m with one surety in like sum.

The judge ordered that the surety must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 13 or a landed property owner with property valued at N60m.

Justice Kala further directed that the defendant and the surety submit passport photographs, National Identification Numbers, Bank Verification Numbers, bank details, and telephone numbers.

He ordered the court registrar and the prosecution to participate in verifying the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to February 12, 2026, for trial.

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Pending the perfection of bail conditions, the defendant was ordered remanded at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan.