ICPC Prosecutes Visa Agent Over Forgery
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a visa agent, Adediwura Stanley, in court for alleged offences of forgery.
Stanley was put on trial at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, where the prosecution claimed that he obtained and use false documents in an attempt to obtain a United Kingdom visa.
The defendant, in a case marked Charge No: ID/27584C/2026qas said to have conspired with two others, Olufemi Adewunmi and Oluwayemi Oyinkan to get the invalid documents including a corporate payslip and a United Bank for Africa, UBA, statement which were purportedly submitted to the UK Visas and Immigration, UKVI, division of the UK Home Office to facilitate the issuance of a visa.
The defendant is facing charges under Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act for conspiracy and forgery, in addition to Sections 17(1)(c) and 25(1)(a) of the ICPC Act 2000 for knowingly using false documents and making misleading statements to public officers.
Stanley’s defence counsel moved an application for bail. However, the prosecution, led by Yvonne Williams-Mbata, opposed the request, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk and could potentially interfere with witnesses if granted bail.
Despite the prosecution’s objections, Justice Ishmael Ijelu granted Stanley bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties of like amount.
The court stipulated that one of the sureties must be a blood relative residing in Lagos State, while both must provide verifiable evidence of income, tax payment, and residential addresses.
As part of the bail conditions, Stanley was ordered to deposit his international passport with the court registry and was prohibited from traveling outside Nigeria for the duration of the trial, ensuring his availability for proceedings.
Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the matter to April 1.
