A travel agent has been arraigned for an alleged N1.3m visa fraud.
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A 38-year-old travel agent Francis David on Tuesday, appeared before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a client of N1.3million.
David, who resides at Nararyi High Cost area of Kaduna, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Aug. 15 at Barnawa area of Kaduna.
Leo alleged that the defendant collected the N1.3million from the complainant, Ms Jennifer Clement, that he would help her process three Australian visas and a Kuwait visa, but failed to do so.
He said the defendant absconded and refused to pick the complainant’s repeated calls.
Leo revealed that the defendant was later apprehended while he was trying to defraud another person.
According to him, the offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 309 and 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 217 stipulates seven years jail term for stealing.
The Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel granted the defendant bail in sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Emmanuel ordered that the sureties should reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide evidence of three years tax payment to the Kaduna State Government.
He also ordered that one of the sureties must be a blood relation to the defendant while he adjourned the case until Oct. 7 for mention.
