Visa Scam: ICPC Secures Conviction Against 2

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a four-year prison sentence each against Mr. Okwara Chidera Oscar and Mr. Kennedy Nwosu for criminal conspiracy and submission of false documents to the Visa Consular Officer at the Indian High Commission in Lagos.

The duo, who apparently were desperate to travel out of the country and did not care about the bad name they would give Nigeria at the High Commission were sentenced to jail by Justice S. S. Ogunsanya of the Ikeja High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State.

At the trial, it was disclosed that Okwara and Kennedy had approached and submitted falsified documents to the Indian High Commission to obtain visas to travel to India, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 13, 17(1)(c) and 26(1)(c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

ICPC prosecution team made up of Mr. Golden Iwuagwu, Mrs. Yvonne William-Mbata and Mrs. Oludiya Atanda told the court that, in the course of investigation, it was discovered that some of the documents falsified and submitted by Okwara to the Visa Consular Officer included: Certificates of Incorporation; a Higher National Diploma certificate from Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Ogun State; a false statement of account from First Bank of Nigeria; and a letter of introduction from Trade Investment Limited.

On the part of Kennedy, his desperation to play professional football in India made him to part with N400,000 as a fee for a visa.

He had already paid N185,000 into the Sterling Bank account of Okwara to secure the visa, thereby committing the same offence with his friend.

Justice Ogunsanya found the defendants guilty of all the charges preferred against them and thereafter sentenced them to four (4) year imprisonment each without the option of fine.