Visa Scam Arrests: ICPC Arraigns two Foreign Affairs Officials

Two staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one other were yesterday arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) in an Abuja High Court over alleged visa scam. Kaka Dauda, Sunday Nweke and Tumbu Bartholomew were alleged to have in June 2013 forged a document titled “Request for Note Verbale” which they purported to be from the office of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Communication Technology to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The prosecuting counsel Michael Adesola further told the court that the document was being processed to secure visa to enable some persons travel to USA. They are: Augustine Osabohien, Obazee Osadolor, Inowan Godfrey, Anifoshowe Abimbola, Adebisi Oluwafemi and Agunu Philips.

After they pleaded not guilty to the offence, Justice Husein Baba Yusuf admitted the accused persons to bail. He ordered each of them to produce the sum of N500, 000 bond each and a surety in like sum. The judge further ordered that the sureties must each own a landed property in the FCT.

The case will come up for hearing on January 20.