A man, Israel Onen, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly swindling a client of N60 million under the guise of procuring travel visas.
Onen appeared on Monday before Justice Ibrahim Kala on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and money laundering.
The charge, marked FHC L 1203C 2025, was filed by the Zone 2 Police Command.
According to police prosecutors, the defendant and unnamed accomplices said to be on the run defrauded one Akinola Ayodele Emmanuel between 2024 and 2025.
He was alleged to have collected N60 million from the complainant with a promise to secure Ireland and Schengen visas for his clients, an arrangement investigators said never materialised and which the suspect failed to refund.
Prosecutors said his actions violate provisions 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 all counts.
Following the plea, the prosecution urged the court to keep the defendant in Zone 2 custody at Onikan, warning that there were additional petitions linking him to similar complaints.
But defence counsel O Ogu opposed the application and prayed the court to admit his client to bail, noting that a formal request had already been filed and served.
Justice Kala granted bail in the sum of N60 million with one surety in like sum who must either be a GL 13 civil servant or the owner of landed property valued at N60 million.
He further directed the defendant and surety to submit two passport photographs each, along with National Identification Numbers, BVNs, bank details and phone numbers used for transaction alerts.
The police and court registrar were mandated to jointly verify all documents.
The matter was adjourned to February 12 2026 for trial. Onen is to remain in custody pending fulfilment of the bail terms.