Police Arraign Man Over Alleged N60m Visa Fraud in Lagos Court

Operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force have arraigned a man, Israel Onen, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over an alleged N60 million visa racketeering scheme.
Onen was docked on Monday before Justice Ibrahim Kala on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, fraud, money laundering, and stealing. The charges, filed by the police, are contained in suit number FHC/L/1203C/2025.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly conspired with others, now at large, between 2024 and 2025 to defraud the complainant, Akinola Ayodele Emmanuel.
The police alleged that Onen fraudulently obtained N60 million under the guise of procuring Ireland and Schengen countries’ visas for the complainant’s clients.
“The visas were never procured, and the money was not returned,” the prosecutor told the court.
The prosecution said the alleged offences contravened relevant provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, and the Criminal Code.
When the charges were read to him, Onen pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, the prosecutor requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in police custody, citing multiple complaints against him.
Defence counsel, O. Ogu, opposed the request and urged the court to grant bail, noting that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution.
In his ruling, Justice Kala granted the defendant bail in the sum of N60 million with one surety in like sum. The judge ordered that the surety must be either a civil servant not below Grade Level 13 or a landed property owner with property valued at N60 million.
The court also directed the defendant and his surety to submit two passport photographs each, their National Identification Numbers, Bank Verification Numbers, bank account details, and phone numbers used for transaction alerts.
Justice Kala ruled that both the court registrar and the prosecutor would verify the bail conditions.
He adjourned the matter to February 12, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, pending the perfection of the bail terms.