56-year-old woman remanded for N25m visa scam in Osun

A magistrate court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has remanded a 56-year-old, Adenike Okunrinmeta, in the Ilesa correctional facility for allegedly obtaining a sum of N25 million from one Azizi Danjuma under the pretence of assisting him to procure visa to the United Kingdom.

Okunrinmeta was arraigned before a magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, on three counts of fraud and pervasion of justice on Monday.

According to the charge sheet obtained by The PUNCH, “Okunrinmeta between April 2023 and January 2024 allegedly obtained the sum of twenty-five million, two hundred and ten thousand naira (#25,210,000:00k) from one Azizi Danjuma under the pretence of procuring a Contract of Sponsor (COS) visa to the United Kingdom for him.”

After the matter was reported at the State Criminal Investigation Department of Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Okunrinmeta was arrested and granted bail on November 24, 2024.

The police, however, alleged that the defendant upon her bail, refused to make herself available again before she was rearrested.

Addressing the court, the Police Prosecutor Elisa Olusegun said the offences committed by the defendant, were contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the three charges levelled against her.

Mr J.P Jones, who had earlier announced an appearance for the defendant, prayed the court to admit her to bail in the most liberal term, noting that she was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

But the prosecutor objected to the oral bail application, arguing that the defendant had earlier jumped administrative bail granted her by the police.

Ayilara subsequently adjourned the case till March 26, 2025, for ruling on bail and subsequently remanded the defendant.