Agent allegedly swindles traveller of N265,000

A 29-year-old man, Chinenye Ojimmadu, whom the police described as a fake travel agent, risks a 15-year-jail term for allegedly defrauding a traveller of the sum of N265,000.

Ojimmadu was yesterday dragged before a chief magistrate court at Tinubu, Lagos, on a two-count charge of theft and fraud.

The prosecutor, Inspector Ben Ekundayo, told the court that the accused, who resides at No. 5, Ogini Street, Ajah, Lagos, committed the offence on January 12, 2018 at Ajah Market, Lagos, on the pretext of helping his victim to secure a visa.

Ekundayo said, “The accused, who claimed to be a travel agent, collected the sum of N265,000 from one Ndubuisi Odah with a promise to procure him a Kuwaiti visa.

“But two months after collecting the money, the accused stopped picking Odah’s calls. This contravened the provisions of Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Section 287 prescribes three years imprisonment, while 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for anyone found guilty,” he added.

Ojimmadu pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate A.M. Olumide-Fusika admitted him to bail in the sum of N50,000, with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till December 12, 2018 for hearing.