A 48-year-old travel agent, Olatunji Olukunle, has appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a client of N1million meant to secure her a Canadian Visa and travelling tickets.
The police charged the defendant with two counts of fraud and theft.
Olukunle, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Insp. Ajaga Agboko, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in October 2018 at 11:30a.m., at Tinubu Street on Lagos Island.
He said that the defendant, a travel agent, collected N1million from a client, Mrs Adeola Alade, with the pretence of helping her obtain a Canadian Visa and travelling tickets.
“A friend had introduced the defendant to Alade as a travel agent.
“Alade then paid the defendant N1million to help her process the Canadian visa and book travel tickets.
“The defendant, however, converted the money to his personal use,” he said.
Agboko said that the offences contravened Sections 314 (1)(a) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2005.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 (1)(a) carries 15 years’ imprisonment for fraud, while Section 287 stipulates three years’ imprisonment for theft.
The magistrate, Mr T. A. Anjorin-Ajose, granted Olukunle bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
He then adjourned the case until Nov. 8 for hearing.
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