ICPC Arraigns Visa Agent For Alleged Forgery, Attempt To Obtain UK Visa With False Documents

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a visa agent, Mr. Adediwura Adesina Stanley, before the Lagos State High Court over allegations bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and the use of false documents in an attempt to obtain a United Kingdom visa.

Mr. Stanley was arraigned on March 11, 2026, before Hon. Justice I. Ijelu in a case marked Charge No: ID/27584C/2026.

According to the charges filed by the Commission, the defendant allegedly conspired with two other individuals, Mr. Olufemi Samuel Adewunmi and Mr. Oluwayemi Oyinkan, to forge financial documents intended to deceive the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) division of the UK Home Office.

The prosecution informed the court that the forged documents included a corporate payslip and a United Bank for Africa (UBA) bank statement, which were allegedly prepared and submitted to facilitate the grant of a visa.

Mr. Stanley is facing charges under Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) for conspiracy to forge and forgery.

He was also charged under Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000 for knowingly using documents containing false statements with the intent to deceive, as well as Section 25(1)(a) of the same Act for allegedly making false statements to a public officer.

Following the arraignment, defence counsel moved an application seeking bail for the defendant, but the prosecution team, led by Mrs. Yvonne Williams-Mbata, opposed the application and filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk and could potentially interfere with prosecution witnesses if admitted to bail.

During the proceedings, a legal clarification arose when defence counsel informed the court that he had filed a “reply” to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.

However, Justice Ijelu noted that the current procedural law does not provide for such a reply in the circumstances.

Despite the prosecution’s objections, the court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant and resident in Lagos State.

Both sureties are also required to provide evidence of payment of income tax, show proof of means of livelihood, and submit verifiable residential addresses.

ICPC

The sureties are further required to depose to an affidavit undertaking that the defendant will not travel outside the country while the matter is pending before the court.

In addition, the defendant was ordered to deposit his international passport with the court registry and is prohibited from travelling outside Nigeria throughout the duration of the trial.

Justice Ijelu thereafter adjourned the matter to April 1, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Signed
J. Okor Odey, Anipr
Spokesperson for the Commission

EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict Adekola Oluokun For Allegedly Laundering N12m

EFCC arraigns ex-convict Adekola Oluokun for allegedly laundering N12m. He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Monday, arraigned ex-convict Adekola Oluokun for allegedly laundering N12 million.

Mr Oluokun was arraigned on a one-count amended charge of money laundering, contrary to Section 330 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

He pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel Muhammed Bashir asked the court for a date to review the facts of the case and sentencing.

The prosecution also prayed that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.

EFCC alleged that the defendant, with others still at large, sometime in 2025 in Lagos, concealed and converted N12 million paid into his account through Point of Sale (POS) agents.

The commission said the sum formed part of N3.9 billion reportedly stolen from accounts in a new-generation bank through unauthorised access and fraudulent activities on its mobile banking platform.

Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case until March 17 for the review of facts and sentencing.

Mr Oshodi also ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.

EFCC

Mr Oluokun was earlier convicted on July 23, 2020, by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Mr Abdulmalik sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a Taiwanese national of $22,300, following prosecution by the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Directorate.

The EFCC Ibadan office had prosecuted him on a six-count amended charge, which included obtaining money by false pretence.

Residents Capture Wanted Armed Robbery Suspect in Enugu, Police Rescue Him From Mob

A suspected armed robber who had been on the police wanted list in Enugu State was severely beaten by an angry mob after he was caught with a pump-action gun at a market square, police sources said.

The suspect, identified as Friday Onwujekwu, popularly known as “Nwatico,” was reportedly apprehended by residents at the Eke Market Square in Akiyi, Umulokpa area of Uzo Uwani Local Government Area on Friday afternoon.

According to a situation report obtained on Sunday, the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on March 13, 2026, after the police received a distress call that the suspect had been captured by members of the public and was being lynched.

Onwujekwu had been declared wanted by the state police command following an earlier attack on a member of a local neighbourhood watch group.

Police sources said that on January 10, 2026, the suspect allegedly attacked Okechukwu Dennis Okoaku at Awkunato Village in Uzo Uwani LGA and dispossessed him of a pump-action gun before fleeing the area.

After months on the run, the suspect was reportedly sighted at the market square while still in possession of the stolen weapon, leading to his capture by residents.

“The suspect who had been on the run was caught at Eke Market Square in Akiyi Umulokpa while armed with the same pump-action gun he earlier stole. He was being lynched by an irate mob before police intervened,” a police source said.

The Divisional Police Officer quickly mobilised a patrol team to the scene, where they rescued the suspect from the mob. However, he had already sustained varying degrees of injuries from the beating.

The suspect was initially rushed to the Police Clinic in Enugu for urgent treatment but was later referred to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, where he is currently receiving medical care.

Police authorities said the case has been transferred to the Command’s Crack Squad in Enugu for further investigation.

Meanwhile, security sources noted that the general security situation in the state remains calm, with police continuing aggressive patrols and monitoring across communities.