Football coach sent to prison over alleged visa scam

Football coach sent to prison over alleged visa scam

A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has arraigned one Mr Olisa Onuchukwu for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2.8million from an Anambra-based businessman, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, under false pretence.

Onuchukwu, Manager of Nnewi United Football Club, was accused of obtaining the sum on the ground of using it to facilitate overseas trip for young players desiring to be engaged by foreign countries.

According to the charge read by the prosecution counsel, A.N. Obo esq, the suspect committed the crime between July and October, 2017.

It was gathered that the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, but the defence council N.A Onwuechi esq., who said the offence was bailable, made an oral application.

Justice B. Quadri, in his ruling, however, turned down the application, directing that a written bail application be filed and the conditions perfected, while the accused was remanded in prison.

A copy of the charge sheet made available to reporters in Awka yesterday partly read, "That between July and October 2017 at Awka, within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court Awka you (Olisa Onuchukwu) did by false pretence and with the intent to defraud, obtained from Hon Ndubuisi Nwobu, the sum of N2.8 million paid into Zenith and Ecobank account numbers.

"Pretending that you will use the said amount to procure visa for one Chukwunonso Anumba, Ikechukwu Nwinoh and Uchendu Jideofor to enable them travel abroad which you knew to be false and there is no truth in it.

"Thereby committed offence contrary to section 1(1)a and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act 2006."

The matter has been adjourned to May 30 for hearing.

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