The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a visa agent, Adediwura Adesina Stanley, before the Lagos State High Court over alleged forgery and the use of falsified financial documents in an attempt to secure a United Kingdom visa.
This was revealed in a statement signed by J. Okor Odey, Spokesperson for the Commission, and issued to newsmen on Tuesday.
According to him, Mr. Stanley was brought before Justice I. Ijelu on March 11, 2026, in a case marked Charge No: ID/27584C/2026.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly conspired with two others, Olufemi Samuel Adewunmi and Oluwayemi Oyinkan, to forge financial documents aimed at deceiving the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the UK Home Office.
The Commission told the court that the forged documents included a corporate payslip and a bank statement purportedly issued by United Bank for Africa (UBA), which were allegedly prepared and submitted to facilitate the grant of a UK visa.
ICPC said the offences contravene Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act, relating to conspiracy and forgery.
The defendant was also charged under Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000 for knowingly presenting documents containing false statements with intent to deceive, and Section 25(1)(a) for allegedly making false statements to a public officer.
During the proceedings, defence counsel applied for bail for the defendant, but the prosecution, led by Mrs. Yvonne Williams-Mbata, opposed the request, arguing that the accused could abscond or interfere with witnesses if granted bail.
Justice Ijelu, however, 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 residing in Lagos State. Both sureties must also provide evidence of tax payment, proof of livelihood and verifiable residential addresses.
In addition, the sureties are required to swear an affidavit guaranteeing that the defendant will not leave Nigeria during the trial.
The court also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court registry and barred him from travelling outside the country pending the determination of the case.
Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the matter to April 1, 2026, for commencement of trial.
