The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a visa agent, Mr. 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.
Mr. Stanley was arraigned on March 11, 2026, before Hon. Justice I. Ijelu in a case marked Charge No: ID/27584C/2026.
According to the charges filed by the Commission, the defendant allegedly conspired with two other individuals, Mr. Olufemi Samuel Adewunmi and Mr. Oluwayemi Oyinkan, to forge financial documents intended to deceive the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) division of the UK Home Office.
The prosecution told the court that the forged documents included a corporate payslip and a United Bank for Africa (UBA) bank statement, allegedly prepared and submitted to facilitate the grant of a visa.
ICPC said the defendant is facing charges under Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act (Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) for conspiracy to forge and forgery.
He was also charged under Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000 for allegedly 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.
Following the arraignment, defence counsel moved an application seeking bail for the defendant, but the prosecution team, led by Mrs. Yvonne Williams-Mbata, opposed the application and filed a counter-affidavit, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk and could interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail.
During proceedings, a legal issue arose when defence counsel informed the court that he had filed a “reply” to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit. However, Justice Ijelu noted that the current 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 resident in Lagos State. Both sureties are also required to provide evidence of payment of income tax, show proof of means of livelihood, and submit verifiable residential addresses.
The sureties must also depose to an affidavit undertaking that the defendant will not travel outside the country while the matter is pending before the court.
In addition, the defendant was ordered to deposit his international passport with the court registry and is prohibited from travelling outside Nigeria throughout the duration of the trial.
Justice Ijelu thereafter adjourned the matter to April 1, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
