Court remands travel agent for ‘defrauding customers of N19m’ in Ondo

A magistrate court sitting in Akure, Ondo state, has remanded Adedotun Daniel, a travel agent, for allegedly defrauding three persons of N19,728,000 with the promise to help them procure travel documents.

Daniel and others, who are still at large, were arraigned before Damilola Sekoni, the chief magistrate, on Friday.

THE CHARGE SHEET

The defendants were arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit a felony, obtaining money under false pretence, and stealing by conversion.

“That you Adedotun Daniel ‘m’ and others still at large sometimes in the month of February 2023 at Akure in the Akure Magisterial district did conspire with yourselves to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence and stealing by conversion and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code, laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006,” the charge reads.

“That you Adedotun Daniel did with false pretence and with intent to defraud obtains the sum of N9,228,000.00k from Mr. Adesohun Folayele Clement under the pretence of using same to procure certificate of sponsorship from the United State of America, which you failed to do so and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) (c) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud-related offences Act, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Adedotun Daniel did fraudulently converts sum of N9,228,000.00k only belonging to one Adesohun Folayele Clement to your own uses and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 390 (9) of the criminal code cap.39 vol. laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Adedotun Daniel sometime in the month of July, 2023 Akure did with false pretence and with intent to defraud obtain: the sum of N7,000,000.00k from Mrs. Jombo Christianah under the pretence of using same sum of money to procure United State of America Visa for he younger sister Mrs. Aderonke Ayangbemi which you failed to do so and thereby committed (3) of the an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) (c) and punishable under section advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences Acts, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria
2006.

“That you Adedotun Daniel sometime in the month of June, 2023 at Akure did with false pretence and with intent to defraud obtains the sum of N3,500,000.00k only from Mr. Kehinde Femi Bayode under the pretence of using same amount to procure United State of America Visa for him which you failed to do so and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) (c) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the advance fee fraud and other fraud related offences Acts, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2006.

“That you Adedotun Daniel on the 31st Oct, 2023 at about 12:00pm did issue a Zenith Bank Checque No 0082143974 domiciled at Zenith Bank plc, Akure to pay Mrs. Jombo Christianah the sum of N5,000,000.00k only of which you know that the account is not funded for the transaction.”

THE COURT PROCEEDINGS

During the proceedings, Wada Simeon, the prosecutor, asked the court to remand Daniel to a correctional facility pending the hearing of the matter.

OO Oladapo, counsel to the defendant, however, said the prosecutor served the remand application in the court.

He appealed to the court to remand the respondent in police custody till the next hearing.

The presiding judge granted the counsel’s request

The judge adjourned the matter till Monday, December 18, 2023.