Alleged Visa Scam: Trial Of Travel Agent Stalled

The absence of Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo of the High Court of Justice of the Federal Capital Territory, sitting in Jabi, has stalled the hearing of the criminal case brought by the inspector-general of police (IGP) against Shitta Waliu Aderibigbe and a travel agency, Fanzine Educational Consult.

The IGP, on behalf of a United Kingdom-based complainant, Mr Opeyemi Makinde, dragged Aderibigbe and the firm before the court for allegedly giving false information to the British government.

But when the case came up on September 22, 2025, the judge was said to be indisposed and therefore, could not sit.

Following the court’s inability to sit, the case has been adjourned to November 19, 2025, for a hearing of a motion filed by the IGP.

The IGP had filed a motion for a court order allowing the complainant, Makinde, to testify in the case virtually.

Aderibigbe and the firm were arraigned on a two-count charge. They pleaded not guilty to them.

They were said to have been engaged in the visa scam on January 19, 2023.

In the charge dated April 9, 2024, Aderibigbe allegedly gave false information to the British Embassy that one Emmanuel Makinde Opeyemi is married to one Dolapo Afussat Yusuf.

The police stated that the false information led to threats of deportation to Emmanuel Makinde Opeyemi to Nigeria.

According to the charge sheet, the accused knows that the act is unlawful and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code Act, CAP 98 Law of Northern Nigeria.

After the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty and Justice Oyeyipo granted him bail in the sum of N1 million.

He was also asked to produce two sureties who must be civil servants and not below level 9 in the civil service.

According to the judge, the sureties must deposit their passport photographs at the court’s registry and must be residents of the FCT.