Travel Agent Arranged Marriage For UK-based Complainant Without Consent – Police Witness

Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Asokoro, Abuja, has heard evidence detailing how a travel agent, Mr Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta, allegedly arranged a fraudulent marriage for Miss Dolapo Afusat Yusuf in order to facilitate her travel abroad using the identity of Mr Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, a Nigerian citizen based in the United Kingdom.

According to the police witness, who is also the Investigating Police Officer, ASP Monday Onoja, the defendant, Mr. Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta,and his company, Fanzine Educational Consult, falsely represented to the British authorities that Miss Dolapo Afusat Yusuf was legally married to Mr. Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde.

However, Makinde has consistently denied any knowledge of or involvement in any marriage with Miss Yusuf.

While being led in his Examination-in-Chief by the Prosecution Counsel, Imoedemhe Vincent Esq., ASP Monday Onoja testified before the Court as follows:

“Along the line, the complainant, Mr. Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, got lawfully married, and when he attempted to bring his legitimate wife abroad, her visa application was refused on the ground that he had previously declared another marriage in his earlier visa application.

“The Defendant, Mr. Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta, obtained a visa for the said lady, Miss Dolapo Afusat Yusuf, without the knowledge or consent of the complainant. Our investigation further revealed that the Defendant falsely added Miss Dolapo Afusat Yusuf as the complainant’s wife in the visa application.”

ASP Monday Onoja further testified that the Nigeria Police Force formally contacted the British authorities for verification, stating:

“When we discovered the fraud, we wrote to the British Government requesting relevant information and supporting documents.

“When we questioned the suspect about the marriage certificate, he informed us that everything was done online and that he did not have a physical copy of the certificate.”

The nominal complainant, Mr. Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, was represented in court by Muhydeen Adeoye Esq. and Fatima O. Raji Esq., while the defence counsel representing Mr. Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta and Fanzine Educational Consult was Kehinde Giwa Esq.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to 23 March 2026 for continuation of hearing, including the determination of an application seeking leave for the nominal complainant, Mr. Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, to give evidence via virtual hearing from the United Kingdom.