Lagos Man Faces Court Over Alleged ₦60 Million Visa Scam

According to Ireporter Online, a man identified as Israel Onen appeared before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday over allegations of involvement in a ₦60 million visa fraud scheme. Onen was arraigned by officers of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force on a four-count charge that includes conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, fraud, and stealing.

Prosecutors told the court that Onen, alongside unidentified accomplices, allegedly defrauded Akinola Ayodele Emmanuel between 2024 and 2025 by promising to secure visas for Ireland and Schengen countries for the complainant’s clients. The prosecution alleged that the visas were never procured and the money was not refunded, in violation of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, and the Criminal Code.

Onen pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution requested that he be remanded in police custody, citing multiple complaints against him. In response, his lawyer, O. Ogu, opposed the request and filed for bail.

Justice Ibrahim Kala granted Onen bail set at ₦60 million with one surety of equal value. The surety must either be a civil servant at Grade Level 13 or above or a landed property owner with property valued at ₦60 million. The court also instructed that both Onen and his surety provide passport photographs, National Identification Numbers, Bank Verification Numbers, bank account details, and phone numbers used for receiving alerts.

The case has been adjourned to February 12, 2026, for trial, and Onen was remanded in the custody of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, until his bail conditions are fulfilled.