The trial has started in Lagos of a 54-year-old father and his 29-year-old son who were alleged to have defrauded 39 visa applicants on the pretext they would procure American visas for them.
The two men, Theophilus Philips and Dennis Philips, were charged before an Ebute Meta magistrate court on a six-count criminal charge of conspiracy and stealing.
The two defendants pleaded not guilty to all the six counts.
Theophilus Philips was alleged to have defrauded the 39 victims of the sum of N7 million obtained from one Dosunmu Rasaq on the pretext he would procure American visas for them. It was gathered that each of the victims paid between N200,000 and N400,000.
Father and son, however, denied ever collecting such money from the complainants.
The police further alleged that Theophilus, sometime in October 2016 at Victoria Island, Lagos, forged the signature of one Munni Irone, a female said to be the president of the Arts for Peace Awards, purporting it to be genuine.
The police also alleged that Theophilus, on January 10, 2019 at Akaka, Shagamu, Ogun State, was unlawfully found in possession of seven Nigerian International passports belonging to one Oladane David Ige, Owoade Bintu Fatima and Rashidat Oyebunmi.
Further trial in the matter has been fixed for April 1, 2019.
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