A magistrate court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the remand of a 56-year-old woman, Adenike Okunrinmeta, at the Ilesa Correctional Centre over an alleged N25 million visa fraud.
Okunrinmeta was arraigned before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara on Monday on three counts, including fraud and perversion of justice.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly obtained the sum of twenty-five million, two hundred and ten thousand naira from one Azizi Danjuma between April 2023 and January 2024. She was said to have falsely promised to secure a Contract of Sponsor visa to the United Kingdom for him.
Following a petition to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Okunrinmeta was arrested and later granted bail by the police on November 24, 2024. However, she reportedly absconded and failed to honour further police invitations before being rearrested.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Elisa Olusegun, told the court that the offences were contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of Osun State, 2002.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. Her counsel, J.P. Jones, urged the court to grant her bail, arguing that she remains innocent until proven guilty. However, the prosecutor opposed the application, citing the defendant’s earlier failure to comply with bail conditions.
Magistrate Ayilara adjourned the case till March 26, 2025, for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre.