A 56-year-old woman, Adenike Okunrinmeta, has been remanded in the Ilesa correctional facility by a magistrate court in Osogbo, Osun State, following allegations of defrauding a man of N25 million under the pretext of helping him procure a UK visa.
Okunrinmeta, who was arraigned on three counts of fraud and perversion of justice before Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, allegedly obtained the sum of N25,210,000 from Azizi Danjuma between April 2023 and January 2024, claiming to assist him in securing a Contract of Sponsor (COS) visa to the United Kingdom.
The charges, outlined in the charge sheet, further reveal that after the matter was reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Osun State Police Command, Okunrinmeta was arrested and granted bail on November 24, 2024. However, police allege that she failed to make herself available for further proceedings and was subsequently rearrested.
Police prosecutor, Elisa Olusegun, stated that the offences committed by the defendant were contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
Despite the charges, Okunrinmeta pleaded not guilty to the three counts. Her lawyer, Mr. J.P. Jones, made an oral application for bail, arguing that she should be granted bail as she is presumed innocent until proven guilty. However, the prosecutor opposed the application, citing her previous failure to comply with bail conditions granted by the police.
Magistrate Ayilara adjourned the case until March 26, 2025, for a ruling on the bail application and ordered the defendant to remain in custody until then.
