ICPC Charges Man to Court over Visa Scam

A 34 year-old man, Onyeugo Anayochukwu, has been charged to court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), for allegedly procuring fake United States of America (USA) entry visa.

ICPC, in a three-count charge filed before Justice M. B. Idris of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court 36, Apo, Abuja, accused Anayochukwu of forgery and making false statement to a constituted authority.

Counsel to the Commission, Enosa Omoghibo, said before the court that the accused while claiming to be a staff of the Federal Ministry of Labour, approached the US embassy in Abuja with fake documents to procure six entry visas to enable him and five others attend the 55th Session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York.

The offences which were allegedly committed in 2011 are in contravention of Sections 363 and 368 of the Penal Code Act and punishable under Section 364 and 368 of the same Act. Cap 532 Laws of Northern Nigeria 1990.

The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him. His lawyer, Adetola Olulelu, asked the court to grant him bail in liberal terms pending the final determination of the case.

Justice Idris, while ruling on the bail application, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million and a surety in like sum. The surety must be a Grade Level 13 officer in the employment of the Federal Government. The matter was then adjourned to 7th March, 2018 for hearing.