Agent defrauds applicant of Spanish visa
MAY 6, 2013
A Spanish Visa seeker, Mr. Samson Odion, a resident of Orisumbare Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State, has been defrauded of N320,000.
He was swindled by a man, who claimed to be a visa consultant, identified as Chinyelugo.
For Odion, it took him close to three years to realise that he had become another visa victim.
The victim told PUNCH Metro that Chinyelugo had in 2010 promised to procure a Spanish Visa for him within 41 days.
Odion said when the agreed time elapsed, he went to collect his visa but Chinyelugo told him the visa was not ready because of some administrative logjam.
He said Chinyelugo pleaded with him that the problem would be rectified within a month and that he would get his visa then.
The victim said before the expiration in December 2010, Chinyelugo telephoned him, urging him not to entertain any fear and that some of his clients (visa applicants) had allegedly travelled.
He said, “I was on top of the world when Chinyelugo asked me to come with him to the embassy to collect my visa that day. It was in December 2010.
“When we got to the Spanish Embassy in Lagos, he asked me to wait for him outside. I was amazed when he came back and told me that my visa had been rejected. I was jolted because he had boasted that nothing on earth would make them reject my visa since he was involved.”
Odion added that when Chinyelugo noticed the change in his countenance, he wooed him with German visa offer.
He stated, “Chinyelugo said since the Spanish visa had failed, he would procure German visa for me. I did not object but after that December, he kept telling me lies.
“I approached him to give me back my money since I had given him close to N320,000. He still assured me that I should not worry and that I would get the visa. After that, he started telling me lies. On one occasion, he told me the embassy had relocated.
“Then he changed his telephone number and address without telling me. I could no longer have access to him.”
He said in his desperate search for him, somebody gave him a hint on his new residence in Igando.
“When I eventually located him, he told me that my passport had got lost. He said police came to raid his house. When I asked him where the policemen came from, he said they were from Police Headquarters annexe, Obalende,” he added.
He said when he went to Obalende to report the incident, he saw his passport there.
He said two policemen promised to mediate in the matter to enable Chinyelugo to refund his money.
He said when Chinyelugo was arrested, he promised to pay back the money in instalments.
He said after the police intervention, he only went to the station to deposit N40,000 in September 2012.
He said since then, he had changed his phone number and residence again.
When PUNCH Metro spoke to Investigating Police Officer, who handled the matter, he said the man came to drop N40,000 and promised to come the following month to drop some.
The IPO, who craved anonymity, said, “He promised to refund the money. On that basis, he was released. After his release, he paid about N40,000. Since that time, he had stopped coming. The phone number he gave us has been indicating switched off.”
Efforts to speak with Chinyelugo were not successful as his known telephone line indicated it was switched off.
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