Police authorities in Oyo have arraigned one Olalekan Balogun for allegedly defrauding a complainant of N15 million under the guise of visa procurement.
Balogun, a 44-year-old man, was arraigned before an Iyaganku chief magistrate’s court in Ibadan on Monday.
Akeem Akinloye, the prosecutor, told the court that Balogun, alongside accomplices still at large, obtained the sum from Adegbenro Oshinlaja in April.
The money was purportedly for securing Hajj visas for six individuals: Najeem Farulahi, Abdulahi Rofiat, Muideen Mayowa, Hammed Iyabo, Salami Abiola, and Ojelade Adekunle.
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Akinloye informed the court that Balogun “converted the N15 million to his personal use”, violating Sections 390 (9), 419, and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
NAN reports that Balogun pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, fraud, and stealing preferred against him.
His counsel, Ifeanyi Okah, argued that the amount involved was N8.5 million, not the N15 million claimed, and requested bail on lenient terms.
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Olabisi Ogunkanmi, the presiding judge, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million, requiring two sureties in like sum.
She noted that one surety must own landed property with a certificate of occupancy within the court’s jurisdiction, and the other must be a blood relative of the defendant.
The case was adjourned to October 28 for further hearing.
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