A man has left a woman totally devastated after collecting money from her and promising to secure UK student visas for her children only to leave her stranded.
*Photo used for illustrative purpose*
A businessman, Olugbenga Makinde, who allegedly defrauded a woman of N2.5m on the pretext of getting UK student visas for her children, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
Makinde, 45, who resides at Ikeja, is facing a two-count of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.
Police Prosecutor Simeon Imhonwa told the court that the accused committed the offences between August and December 2016 at Ikeja.
Imhonwa said the accused collected N2.5m from the complainant, Mrs Folashade Agbede, with a promise to get UK student visas for her two children.
“The accused collected the money to process admission into a school in UK for the Master’s degree programme of the complainant’s children.
“After the accused received the money, he refused to pick his calls and all efforts made by the complainant to get her money proved abortive,” he said.
The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised)
Section 314 prescribes a 15-year jail term for offenders.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs B.O. Osunsanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Osunsanmi said the sureties must be gainfully employed and should provide two years tax clearance.
The case was adjourned until Aug. 23 for mention.
-NAN