By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned a visa agent, Adediwura Adesina Stanley, before the Lagos State High Court over allegations of conspiracy, forgery, and the use of false documents in an attempt to obtain a United Kingdom visa.
The arraignment, which took place on March 11, 2026, was confirmed in a statement issued by the Commission’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, who disclosed that the defendant appeared before Justice I. Ijelu in a case marked ID/27584C/2026.
According to the prosecution, Stanley allegedly conspired with two other individuals, Olufemi Samuel Adewunmi and Oluwayemi Oyinkan, to forge financial documents intended to mislead the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration, a division of the UK Home Office responsible for visa processing.
The court heard that the forged documents included a corporate payslip and a bank statement purportedly issued by United Bank for Africa, which were allegedly prepared and submitted to support the visa application.
Stanley is facing charges under Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act for conspiracy to forge and forgery. He was also charged under Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000 for knowingly using documents containing false statements with intent to deceive, as well as Section 25(1)(a) of the same Act for allegedly making false statements to a public officer.
During the proceedings, defence counsel applied for bail on behalf of the defendant. However, the prosecution team, led by Yvonne Williams-Mbata, opposed the application, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk and could interfere with witnesses.
A procedural issue arose when defence counsel indicated that a reply had been filed to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit. Justice Ijelu, however, clarified that the applicable procedural law does not provide for such a reply in the circumstances.
Despite the prosecution’s objections, the court 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 and a resident of Lagos State, while both must provide proof of income tax payment, means of livelihood, and verifiable residential addresses.
The sureties were also directed to depose to an affidavit undertaking that the defendant would not travel outside the country during the pendency of the case. In addition, Stanley was ordered to deposit his international passport with the court registry and is barred from leaving Nigeria pending the conclusion of the trial.
Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the case to April 1, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
