39-year-old man arrested for forging Italian, German visas

One Agbaje Muyiwa, 39, was Friday, charged before an Ejigbo Senior Magistrates’ Court 1, Lagos State, for allegedly forging Italian and German visas valued at N207, 000. It was gathered that the accused who is facing trial on a six-count-charge of felony, forgery, fraud, unlawful possession and theft, had conspired with one Sunday to commit the offences. The Prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ilevbare, speaking in court, said the accused in September 2014 at Abesan Estate in Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos, worked together with one Sunday to commit felony and stealing.

“The accused on the said date, did collect N550, 000 from one Mr. Ehigozie Sammy under the pretext of procuring a German visa for him in which he was not in the capacity to do so. Ilevbare went further to say, “Muyiwa, on September10 and September 17, at Abesan Estate in Ipaja, did collect N207, 000 from the same Ehigozie claiming he was going to arrange a hotel reservation in Italy for him.” He said the accused was also alleged to have stolen N207, 000 from the same Ehigozie.

According to him, the accused in September 2014, at Ipaja forged an Italian visa and gave it to Ehigozie as a genuine visa, adding that the offences contravened Sections 409, 312 and 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. “Section 312(3) prescribes that any offender is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for 15 years,” the prosecutor noted. However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Magistrate, Mrs. J.O. Adeyemi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Adeyemi adjourned the case to November 4 for further hearing, stressing said that the sureties must present three years’ tax clearance from the Lagos State Government.